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

I am taken aback by the Minister of State's answer. It would appear from her reply that the Minister of State is saying there is sufficient legislation to prevent deterioration and protect these structures. If there was legislation concerning specific planning rules that would be applicable to the area around historic sites, however, we would not be left with the current situation in Moore Street. In that case, the whole area was allowed to become derelict and we saw that continuing over the years. The site then went to a developer who is now in NAMA.

Unless the Minister and the Government intervene, come 2016, we will probably have a national monument from Nos. 14 to 17, Moore Street, but it will be surrounded by the current derelict area. Alternatively, if the developer had his way and found the money, or if NAMA provided it, we would have a huge shopping centre that would completely dwarf our national monument there.

The Dutch authorities would not allow something similar at the Anne Frank House. The Polish and German authorities would not allow fast food takeaways beside Auschwitz or Dachau. We are not protecting our national monument by not having these other plans to support the general area around it. There is not sufficient legislation in place to protect it.

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