Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

20. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the health and safety requirements that prevented the Lord Mayor of Dublin from visiting the site of the national monument in Moore Street, Dublin 1; and her views that the Lord Mayor should have been afforded the opportunity to visit this site. [19868/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since works were suspended, the only access to the national monument buildings, which are a construction site, has been by construction professionals with the requisite health and safety training for the purposes of essential maintenance and monitoring.

There are a number of potential health and safety issues associated with the site and its layout that render it unsuitable for other visitors while works were suspended, or indeed while the current interim works approved by the High Court are in progress. These include significant elements of temporary support works, underpinning of existing structures to maintain temporary stability, uneven walking surfaces, awkward access and layout and restricted circulation within the site. There are also legal obligations with regard to responsibility for the safety of any and all persons who may enter on to it.

In the circumstances, access will generally have to remain limited to construction personnel until such time as it is confirmed that the site may be opened to other visitors.