Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 785: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Heritage and Local Government to confirm actions now open to him to preserve and protect the 1916 historical site at Moore Street in Dublin city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1290/11]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 789: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Heritage and Local Government if he has been informed of Dublin City Council's plans to partially demolish buildings 17 and 18 Moore Lane, and his views of the fact that these buildings back on to the Moore Street terrace of buildings which form part of the Carlton site and include buildings listed as national monuments; if his consent is required for those demolitions, it being a development that affects those national monuments; the steps he will take to preserve the buildings at Moore Lane which were occupied by leaders during the 1916 Rising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1426/11]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 792: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Heritage and Local Government the action he will take to ensure the preservation and restoration of buildings in the area of Moore Street, Dublin 1, associated with the 1916 Rising, in view of the recent partial demolition of buildings on Moore Lane which had been occupied by the leaders of the Rising; if he consider listing the buildings on Moore Lane as protected structures as they are of immense historical significance; if he will consider designating and supporting the area of the General Post Office, Moore Street and Moore Lane as a historical quarter of the city and ensure it is a fitting monument and tribute to the men and women of the Easter Rising instead of allowing it fall into further dereliction and neglect. [1477/11]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 785, 789 and 792 together.

In January 2007, my predecessor as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government placed a Preservation Order on nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street under the National Monuments Acts. The Preservation Order was made on the grounds that the buildings, which are privately owned, are a monument, the preservation of which is of national importance by reason of its historical importance as the final headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. My role as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is to protect the monument, under that Order, from any danger of being destroyed, injured or removed. In that regard any works affecting the monument require my prior consent under the National Monuments Acts.

I understand that the building where recent works took place to remove the upper storey on safety grounds is located at the corner of Henry Place and Moore Lane. The building is outside the area encompassed by the Preservation Order on nos. 14 to 17 Moore St. and there was, accordingly, no requirement for Ministerial consent to be obtained for the works. An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for development on the site that includes the Moore St. monument. This permission does not supersede the Preservation Order already in place and my consent will still be required for any development works that may affect the buildings covered by the Preservation Order. I fully appreciate the historical significance of these buildings as the site of the last military actions of the 1916 Rising leaders and the appropriateness of any proposed works will be carefully examined against that historical background if a works related consent application is submitted.