Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It went through a legal process. The legal process has gone on for many years and dates back to 2003. There was a Government decision at the time. It was before my time and ultimately ended up in arbitration. The most recent arbitration was in 2021. The arbitrator made a decision in June 2022, which basically said the OPW is legally obliged to build it. The next steps were that the OPW had to apply for planning permission. It was appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the two parties. An Bord Pleanála made its final decision with a grant in March 2024. The next step is that the arbitrator reconvenes with the parties, which are the Irish Children's Museum Company Limited, which is the promoter, and the OPW, to decide the next steps. The Government has yet to decide which Department will fund this building. This building has just been granted final permission. That is the current state of play.

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