Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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266. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views regarding whether the purchase of the 1916 national monument at Nos. 14 to 17, Moore Street in Dublin 1 has been completed; the terms of the purchase; by whom it was surveyed, assessed and valued prior to purchase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38863/15]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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267. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views regarding whether the purchase of the national monument at Nos. 14 to 17, Moore Street in Dublin 1 was subject to a compulsory purchase order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38864/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.

The Government decided to acquire the national monument at Nos. 14–17 Moore Street because of its historic association with the events of Easter 1916. This decision demonstrates and acknowledges the historical importance of the site in a clear and substantive way and ensures that the long-term future of this historical landmark will be preserved and safeguarded. Bringing the monument into public ownership will also allow the development of a 1916 Commemorative Centre on the site.

The legal steps to bring the national monument into my ownership as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht have been completed. The issue of a compulsory purchase order did not arise. The purchase from the previous owner was effected with the assistance of NAMA and the consideration of €4m was arrived at in the normal commercial manner.

I am pressing ahead as a priority with arrangements to implement the Government’s decision in full and I expect to make a further statement on the progress of the project in the coming days.