Mr. Jim Keogan:

I wish to put in context the role of Dublin City Council in the redevelopment of the area. The site of the national monument at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street is in close proximity to the GPO and both are situated in an area of the city that has suffered from urban blight and dereliction since the 1970s. The physical appearance of this area has been a cause of concern to the city council, having regard to its historical, social and architectural significance for the nation. A number of interventions have been made by the city council and the Government over the years to address these issues and problems. The first was the preparation by Dublin City Council and subsequent approval by the Government in 1999, of an integrated area plan for O'Connell Street. That plan was one of five approved for the city, which provided for a package of tax incentives to assist in the redevelopment and rejuvenation of targeted sites within the plan areas. The Carlton sites form "Site Cluster 1" in the O'Connell Street integrated area plan, which was identified as having great potential and capacity to act as a catalyst for the redevelopment of that part of Upper O'Connell Street, which had been and is suffering from widespread dereliction. The site of the national monument at Moore Street formed part of these designated lands.

Subsequently, designation of O'Connell Street as an architectural conservation area took place in 2001. This was the first architectural conservation area prepared for Dublin pursuant to the newly-introduced planning and development legislation in 2000. The purpose of the designation was to give recognition and protection to the historical and architectural character of this area. The GPO, together with the Carlton facade and other buildings, form part of this designated area. Subsequent to the aforementioned designation, the area was also made an area of special planning control in 2003. Again, the city council so designated the area and it was the first of its type on foot of the new planning and development legislation. The purpose of the exercise was to regulate undesirable uses within the area and to give greater protection to the historical character of this primary main street of the capital. Again, this designation was the first of its type for the city.

I refer to Nos. 14-17 Moore Street and the site's inclusion on the record of protected structures.

Up until 2006, Nos. 14-17 Moore Street had no conservation designation under the provisions of the planning Acts. In 2005, Dublin City Council commissioned Shaffrey Associates, architects, and John Montague, urban historian, to carry out an architectural assessment of Nos. 14-17 Moore Street. Following consideration of the report, public submissions and the positive recommendation of the city manager, the members of the city council approved the inclusion of Nos. 14-17 Moore Street in the city council's record of protected structures.

A retail core strategy was prepared by Dublin City Council to address the continued decline in the retail offer in the city centre. The continued migration of retail activity to the suburbs required specific interventions by way of policy initiatives. The strategy was introduced by way of a variation to the then Dublin city development plan and identified sites within the north and south side retail areas suitable for redevelopment which could enhance and consolidate the city centre as the primary retail area for the region. It should be noted that the lands at Upper O'Connell Street, inclusive of the Carlton site, were identified as one of these sites. The strategy took cognisance of the protected status of the buildings, both in O'Connell Street and Moore Street, and would also provide the opportunity to integrate them into a renewed and vibrant city area, thereby further enhancing their status.

Nos. 14-17 Moore Street were subsequently designated as a national monument by the then Minister in 2007. Between 2002 and 2006, Dublin City Council invested over €20 million in the refurbishment of the O'Connell Street area. This public investment in the area was to both stimulate and complement private investment which was also taking place. It should be noted that 11 cluster sites were identified within the O’Connell Street integrated area plan for tax designation. Of these 11 sites, only two remain undeveloped, including the Carlton lands. In 2008, a planning application was lodged with the city council for the comprehensive redevelopment of a 2.1 ha site situated between Upper O'Connell Street and Moore Street. The site area included the national monument at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street. The applicants, Chartered Land, had assembled the site over several years and had engaged in a consultation process with stakeholders, including the city council members, prior to lodging their planning application.

The application was assessed having regard to the city development plan and the policy objectives of the various strategies and designations outlined above. It should be noted that major modifications were made to the proposed scheme during this assessment process and a decision was made to grant permission in 2008. The planning authority was satisfied in making this decision that the national monument was both respected but also would now be enhanced by forming an integral part of a larger, vibrant urban block.

The decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála and following a lengthy appeal period that included an oral hearing, An Bord Pleanála granted permission for a development in 2010. The city council has been consistent over the past several decades in seeking the redevelopment of these lands at Upper O'Connell Street and Moore Street. The city council has sought to achieve this redevelopment in a balanced fashion that respects the historical and architectural significance of the area but, at the same time, recognises the need for investment so as to address the serious urban blight and dereliction from which the area has long suffered.

Since the application by the developer for consent to carry out works on the national monument site was made, we understand further positive steps are being taken with the Minister's office to see if there is a way to reinforce and extend the commitment to appropriately commemorate the 1916 event. We are not privy to these discussions at this point but when the environmental impact statement, required under new legislation passed in July, emanates from this process it will go on public display, submissions will be taken and the council will also be formally consulted. It may well be that a proposal that addresses various concerns still being expressed can be achieved through this process.