Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To be clear, my role as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is to assess what is best for the national monument, and the national monument has been designated as Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street. I do not have any powers under the National Monuments Acts to create an historic quarter in Moore Street. The properties around the national monument are in private ownership. They are not subject to my remit under the National Monuments Acts. The redevelopment plans for the area have received full planning permission from An Bord Pleanála. The good news is we have the building. I must bring a proposal to the Government to develop it. The proposed plans for the centre were fine and would have been a great facility in Moore Street. I have been there and it is very derelict. The proposed plans would have represented a tribute to the leaders.

I will bring a memo to Government. It is my intention that the work will commence as quickly as possible.

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