Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is good to begin to hear a little of the detail. I discussed the matter during the Estimates debate on 11 February with the Minister of State, Deputy Harris. At the time it was clear that the Estimate for the OPW heritage services this year represented only a 1% increase on last year, a matter of a couple of hundred thousand euro. That is not much in the circumstances. The Minister has said there would be between €1 million and €2 million to help. Perhaps we can get a breakdown of that.

In particular, I welcome the expenditure in areas like Kilmainham Gaol. Some of it is coming from other Departments but the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the OPW have a role and that is why I am pursuing it. In particular, I am keen to know the plans in respect of the General Post Office, especially the Moore Street site and the role of the OPW in this regard. Everyone knows the 1916 leaders moved to the Moore Street site from the GPO. We need the issue of the interpretive centre there dealt with. Various logistical, planning and financial issues arise, but the men of 1916 did not give up their lives for planning, zoning issues or NAMA issues. It will be a shame on the men of 1916 if we cannot overcome this 100 years after their Rising.

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