Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views that intervention to properly secure the future of 14-17 Moore Street Dublin, and its environs should be a priority in the run up to the 1916 centenary. [14535/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, in relation to the 1916 centenary celebrations, the Deputy is no doubt aware that the Taoiseach has announced his intention to establish a consultative group to make preparations for a major celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Rising in 2016 and has received nominations from partly leaders to same. He is now making arrangements to include representatives of independent Deputies and Senators. I will, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, be chairing that group.

In regard to Moore Street, the position is that, in January 2007, the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government placed a preservation order on Nos. 14 to 17 under the National Monuments Acts. The order was made on the grounds that No. 16 Moore Street is a monument, the preservation of which is of national importance by reason of its historical significance as the site of the final council of war and final headquarters of the Provisional Government, which included five of the Proclamation signatories - Pearse, Connolly, Plunkett, Clarke and McDermott.

The purpose of the preservation order is to ensure the preservation of No. 16 Moore Street in the context of wider redevelopment proposals centred on the former Carlton Cinema site. To achieve this objective, the order also covers Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street and includes the yards to the rear of Nos. 15 and 16 Moore Street, extending to Nos. 8 and 9 Moore Lane. The effect of the order is that works affecting these properties, including any excavation or ground disturbance within, around or in proximity to them, will require my prior written consent under the National Monuments Acts.

In relation to any plans for development work at Nos 14 – 17, I must point out that the buildings are in private ownership. The preservation order does not confer on the Minister the power to carry out works to such a privately owned National Monument and the purpose of the order is to protect the monument from any danger of being destroyed, injured or removed.

The proposed development of the Carlton Cinema site, in accordance with the permission granted by An Bord Pleanála, envisages the retention of Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street and, subject to ministerial consent under the National Monuments Acts, No. 16 Moore Street becoming a commemorative centre. Recent discussions between my Department and representatives of the site owners have considered, because of the small size of the houses, the possibility of spreading the commemorative centre (required to be put in place in No. 16) over the four houses, with Number 16 as the main focus. These discussions took place in the context of the consent required, under the National Monuments Acts, for any works affecting Nos. 14 to 17.

Detailed proposals in this regard were submitted to my Department last Friday. The proposals, which comprise the conservation of No. 14 – 17 as a commemorative centre to facilitate interpretation of the significant cultural history relating to the events of Easter 1916, will now be carefully considered by me and by officials of my Department.