Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 8 November 2012

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht

Preservation of Historic Buildings: Discussion

3:20 pm

Mr. Dominic Dunne:

An accusation was made by someone about actions in the past. With regard to the site, the historical aspect is the most important. There is in hand great design, architectural and historical research relating to the four relevant buildings, Nos. 14, 15, 16 and 17 with Nos. 14,15 and 17 to be developed as a commemorative centre and No. 16 as a national monument, which is all good. The first thing that has to happen by law in any development is that a screening must be implemented. The screening will identify where an environmental impact assessment needs to be carried out. All interested parties must be allowed an input into such an assessment. That should be done properly according to the letter of the law. We are in this situation in the first place because this was not carried out. We are back at a stage where we are looking at what needs to be done, which is to identify the full extent of the national monument. Once that is identified, we can say this all needs to be properly protected and other aspects of the site can be commercially developed while, at the same time, putting money aside to protect and enhance the national monument.

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