Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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3. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether misleading and inaccurate information led to the signing of the consent order for work to take place at the national monument at Moore Street, Dublin 1; and if she will freeze that consent order and initiate an independent assessment of the battlefield site. [40219/14]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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On the same theme, my question relates to the fact there misleading information and misinformation led to the Minister's predecessor signing the consent order. In view of that, will the Minister put a freeze on the consent order so as to ensure there can be a proper, independent, comprehensive assessment of the battlefield site?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I do not accept the suggestion that the decision made by my predecessor was based on misleading or inaccurate information.

As indicated in previous replies, revised designs submitted by the owners for the restoration of the national monument buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street and the creation of a commemorative centre to the leaders of the 1916 Rising on the site were approved by my predecessor on 30 April 2014. The granting of the consent followed detailed consideration and appraisal of all relevant factors, including a formal environmental impact assessment. A comprehensive assessment of the wider area was also produced as part of the consent process and full account was taken of it in the Department’s decision. The methodology for the assessment was drawn up and agreed in advance by my Department’s national monuments service and by the director of the National Museum of Ireland. The assessment was carried out by an eminent archaeologist and historian and my Department is satisfied with the quality of the research.

I do not propose to seek a further assessment of the area. I am satisfied that the determination made on the consent application was not in any way influenced by misleading or inaccurate information and my Department has made this clear in writing in reply to correspondence on the matter, including to Dublin City Council.

I have recently visited the national monument and been through the entire site. During my visit I spoke to a number of the Moore Street traders and they are anxious this development should go ahead. They pleaded with me to do something to ensure this development goes ahead because the area needs redevelopment. I told them my role is to protect the national monument and the decision on the development remains with Dublin City Council.

I have also offered meetings to both of the 1916 Moore Street relatives groups next week and expect to discuss the plans for the national monument with them. However, it is important to note that advancement of the project, which relates to a previous grant of planning permission, is a matter for the owners to progress in consultation with Dublin City Council.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Nobody disagrees with the development of the area, because it has been a derelict, abandoned site and disgrace to all of our governments since 1916 or since after the Civil War. However, the point is that the whole area is a monument and other buildings on the street, apart from Nos. 14-17, have been identified in the Myles battlefield report as having significance in regard to the events of the Easter Rising. For example, O'Brien's mineral water building in Henry Place was occupied by the volunteers, the white house in Henry Place was occupied and held by Michael Collins, and Cogan's in No. 10 Moore Street was where the first council of war was held and where there was an overnight stay. The bottling stores were occupied by Frank Henderson and Hanlon's, at 20-21 Moore Street, was where the surrender order was accepted by the volunteers, after consultation with Tom Clarke, Joseph Plunkett and Seán Mac Diarmada. Therefore, there are other buildings on that street of historical significance.

The consent order issued by the Minister will result in their obliteration.

While I fully understand the position of the street traders and respect the street trading tradition, the traders can be facilitated with an appropriate development that takes account of the historical significance of Moore Street. It must not be a sprawling, massive shopping centre in the middle of a number of other shopping centres.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I reiterate that a comprehensive assessment of the proposed works on the national monument site was carried out, at my Department's request, as part of the consent application under the National Monuments Acts. The consent applicant, Chartered Land Limited, which owns the national monument site, was asked by my Department in January 2012 to commission an assessment of the wider battlefield context of the national monument as part of the Minister's consideration of the consent application. The report reinforces the primary status of Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street, most notably because of the degree to which pre-1916 fabric survives in association with the final critical hour of the Rising and how these buildings stand in contrast to the wider area. The methodology for the assessment was drawn up and agreed in advance by my Department's National Monuments Service and the director of the National Museum of Ireland. As such, the site has been assessed by experts in the field and their report is on record. On that basis, there are no plans to carry out a further reassessment.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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The comprehensive assessment was flawed and someone must call a halt before its mistakes are compounded.

The Minister is to meet the relatives of the leaders of the Rising. I ask her to tour the entire battlefield site with them and listen to the stories of the events that unfolded at every step of the way between the General Post Office and the Rotunda where the photograph of Pádraig Pearse surrendering was taken. I also ask her to meet the Dublin city manager. Someone must take responsibility for this issue.

While it is great that funding has been provided for the General Post Office and the former courthouse at Kilmainham, Moore Street is also a very important site, one which we are in danger of losing. People used to live on Moore Street. While it is now derelict, it has considerable potential for business and housing, especially given the current housing crisis. Housing should be provided on the street and its historical aspects preserved.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have met members of the Dublin City Council sub-committee which deals with the national monument on Moore Street. I do not consider that the assessment was flawed. The Department is satisfied that there is no basis to the suggestion that the previous Minister was misinformed or had inaccurate information when making his decisions on consents granted under the National Monuments Acts in respect of the national monument on Moore Street.

On Nos. 13, 18 and 19 Moore Street, my Department has dealt comprehensively with related correspondence received from the relatives' solicitor. It was pointed out that these buildings are outside the bounds of the preservation order covering the national monument at Nos. 14 to 17 and that the requirement for the ministerial consent to cater for their demolition only arises in so far as the continuation of the demolition works creates ground disturbance in the proximity of the monument that could impact on the monument.