Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Currently, there is no national legislation which outlines specific planning rules applicable to sites of development which are near national monuments or listed and preserved buildings. We are talking about the aesthetics of what we have besides national monuments. Conceivably, we could have a massive shopping centre at the entrance to Newgrange or a nightclub right beside the GPO. If legislation were in place, then what happened with the national monument in Moore Street might have been avoided.

I accept the Minister’s remit concerns only national monuments but there has to be a role in deciding on the surrounding areas. That is where the problem is now and where local authorities come in. How much oversight does the Minister have with local development plans to ensure the aesthetics around national monuments?

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