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

First, my priority is to acquire the monument, secure the buildings, restore them and develop the monument as a public commemorative facility in time for the centenary celebrations in 2016. I understand that there have been meetings with Dublin City Council and that it has plans to look at the wider issues around that area. That is a matter for Dublin City Council because under the Planning and Development Act, Dublin City Council, as both the local government and planning consent authority, is the most appropriate entity to manage the ongoing development of this important inner city area. Already sections of Moore Street, on the auxiliary lanes, are within the current O'Connell Street architectural conservation area, designated in July 2001, and the O'Connell Street area of special planning control adopted by Dublin City Council in September 2009.

My role, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, is to assess what is best for the national monument itself in accordance with the terms of the National Monuments Acts. That is reflected in my recent recommendation to Government for the State to have the national monument restored as a publicly-owned 1916 commemorative centre. I do not have any powers under the National Monuments Acts to create a historical quarter in Moore Street. The reality is that the properties around the national monument are in private ownership, they are not subject to my remit under the National Monuments Acts and the redevelopment plans for the area have received fully planning permission from An Bord Pleanála.

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