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

The €4 million figure has been in the public realm since 31 March 2015 when I announced the Government decision to acquire the national monument. This figure was arrived at in the usual commercial manner. The Deputy will recall that before the Government stepped in, Dublin City Council had turned down a deal involving the acquisition of the Moore Street national monument in part exchange for Nos. 24 and 25. As part of that proposed transaction, there was a €4 million price tag on Nos. 14-17 Moore Street. The €4 million was agreed upon by NAMA in the normal commercial manner. The wider transaction was rejected by the council, so the Government stepped in to save the national monument. There was a serious risk to the fabric of the buildings from continued non-intervention. Given the Government's commitment to safeguarding the site and making it publicly accessible during the centenary year, it was much better to move in, and we are using the existing planning application. Time is not on our side and the building is deteriorating all the time. We are using the existing planning permission and we can start now. Most of the works will be restoration work. Because of the particular circumstances of the project, involving historically unique and sensitive buildings, and the imminence of the 2016 centenary, I believe that this approach represents the most practical means of delivering a 2016 commemorative centre.

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