John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Costello for tabling the motion on the need for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to disclose the contents of the report he has received on the development of the national monument at Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street. I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Deenihan.

The Government fully appreciate the historical significance of these buildings as the site of the last military actions of the leaders of the 1916 Rising following the evacuation of the GPO. No. 16 is the site of the final council of war and final headquarters of the Provisional Government, which included five of the Proclamation signatories, namely, Pearse, Connolly, Plunkett, Clarke and McDermott. In January 2007, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government placed a preservation order on Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street under the National Monuments Acts. The purpose of this preservation order is to ensure the preservation of the buildings in the context of wider redevelopment proposals centred around the former Carlton cinema site. The preservation order covers Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street and includes the yards to the rear of Nos. 15 and 16 Moore Street, extending to Nos. 8 and 9 Moore Lane.

The effect of the preservation order is that any works affecting these properties, including any excavation or ground disturbance within, around or in proximity to them, require the prior written consent of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the National Monuments Acts. An Bord Pleanála has made a decision to grant permission, with conditions, for a mixed development on the former Carlton cinema site, which includes the Moore Street monument. The proposed development of the site, in accordance with the permission granted by An Bord Pleanála, envisages the retention of Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street and No. 16 becoming a commemorative centre.

The Deputy refers to the application received by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht last Friday for ministerial consent to carry out works at the national monument. The words proposed, which comprise the conservation of Nos. 14 to 17 as a commemorative centre to facilitate interpretation of the significant cultural history relating to the events of Easter 1916, are being considered carefully by the Minister and officials of his Department. The Minister's written consent will be required prior to the commencement of any works. The application includes the integration of the national monument within the larger Dublin central project. This would require works both outside and within the national monuments preservation order boundary.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the application involves a large amount of material that must be considered carefully by the Minister. The Minister's decision cannot be prejudiced by releasing, at this time, the full detail of the application that has been received. I assure the Deputy, however, that he will have no problem in making the details publicly available once a decision has been reached on this matter.

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