Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The lveagh Gardens were placed in the care of the OPW in 1991. The OPW's remit includes the restoration and conservation of the gardens, while allowing greater public access. The OPW continues to restore and maintain the gardens. It will continue to do so into the future.

The Dublin City Council development plan reinforces the safeguarding of the lveagh Gardens through the zoning of the gardens as open space amenity. The lveagh Gardens are also listed on the register of protected structures. The OPW is committed to its role as custodian of the lveagh Gardens.

The proposed development of the national children's science centre received a full grant of planning permission from Dublin City Council in March 2024 following a third-party appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

The planning submission made by the OPW, along with the response to the third-party appeal issued to An Bord Pleanála, addressed all the issues raised regarding any possible impacts to the Iveagh Gardens. This is supported by An Bord Pleanála within the report of the inspectors. The concerns expressed in the petition from the Save the lveagh Gardens group were addressed as part of the OPW planning application. An Bord Pleanála accepted the OPW's submission in its decision.

The development of the national children's science centre will not lead to the destruction or any loss of the lveagh Gardens. It will, in fact, increase the overall area of the lveagh Gardens.

The proposed national children's science centre will be mainly located in the North Butler wing of the Earlsfort Terrace complex. Its development will form part of an overall restoration and refurbishment programme for this 110-year-old State-owned building. The important works will safeguard the historic site for another 100 years. This overall site restoration programme represents 58% of the total estimated cost of the national children's science centre project.

The outcome of the 2021 arbitration proceedings involving the OPW and the ICML found in favour of the latter. While there is a legally binding contract, the OPW is conscious of the concerns raised to the effect that this project should be subject to robust value-for-money analysis before Exchequer funding can be committed to it. Notwithstanding that, the OPW has a legal obligation to build the science centre in accordance with the contract. The provision of the funds to meet the costs of the development and separately the future operating model of the national children's science centre will need to be established and a Government decision will be required.