Seanad debates

Tuesday, 21 June 2022

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

Regeneration Projects

12:00 pm

Photo of Mary FitzpatrickMary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad. Last year, he included the wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Dublin 7 in the more than €121 million allocated funding for urban regeneration in the north inner city of Dublin. We greatly appreciate the funding. I have asked him to update the House on the progress that has been made by Dublin City Council, DCC, in using the funding to reopen the fruit and vegetable market. Please advise the House on how his Department can support DCC to achieve an early re-opening of the market.

As the Minister will be aware, the market is housed in an iconic Victorian building located behind the Four Courts in one of the oldest parts of this city where the streets date back to medieval times. The distance from the Spire to Smithfield is 1 km and, therefore, the market is in the middle of the city and is served by the Luas transport system. In addition, the market is located within walking distance of all of the major attractions in the city centre. The Victorian building is iconic with its facade of red bricks, wrought iron, wood and steel. The building was purpose-built in 1892 by Dublin Corporation to allow local producers to sell their fruit and vegetables to residents and businesses. For generations, and for most of my life, the market bustled with activity and I am sure that the Minister will be aware of that himself. The market is a quintessential and unique Dublin institution with its building, the activity there and the generations of families who traded at the market.

As far back as 2001, DCC came up with a framework to redevelop the market. In 2005, the adjacent fish market was demolished and that has been replaced by a car park. In 2004, when I was elected to the council, I worked with the traders and officials to upgrade the market building by rewiring it, and replacing and repainting the roof. Significant funding went into it at that time but, sadly, since 2019, the site has lain vacant. The council said that it needed vacant possession and the market is lying vacant, which is a shame. One pop-up Chinese New Year festival took place at the venue but otherwise it has been rented out as a builder's yard. The building is now empty and that is shameful. The design of the building is spectacular and, therefore, it has enormous potential to act as a culinary, cultural, commercial and community point in the city centre.I hope that the Minister can advise the House on what progress has been made by Dublin City Council because the latest report from the local authority has indicated it will be another two years. Another two years does not sound like a long time but in the context of more than 20 years already talking about this, it is unacceptable. It is de-motivating for other businesses in the area, for the local community and for the wider city.

I hope the Minister can advise the House on what actions his Department can support Dublin City Council with to reopen it. Ideally, it should be opened, at least on a pilot basis, once a week. It is a huge space. Conservation works could take place in parallel.

I look forward to the Minister's reply.

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