Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In March 2022 Government approved high level proposals for the National Centre for Research and Remembrance to be located on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry in Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1 to comprise:

• a museum and exhibition space, the development of which will be led by the National Museum of Ireland
• a research centre and repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century, which will form part of the National Archives
• a place for reflection and remembrance
• social housing
• educational and community facilities

A Steering Group, chaired by Mr Martin Fraser, former Secretary General to the Government and Ambassador to Great Britain, was established in April 2022 and is driving the overall coordinated development of the National Centre.

In July 2022, Dublin City Council voted to transfer the site of the former Magdalen Laundry at Sean McDermott Street to the OPW, to be developed as the National Centre. The OPW is continuing essential maintenance works on the site to facilitate safe and full access and necessary building surveys.

In July 2023 Government approved the masterplan for the National Centre campus and a preliminary business case for the main National Centre buildings (museum and archive). In March 2024 Government approved further key project documents including the preliminary business case for the full National Centre Campus.

Extensive work is continuing on the development of a detailed project plan including timelines for development, with a number of Government departments and agencies acting in partnership. It is anticipated that an application for planning permission for the National Centre campus will be submitted in the summer.

An initial, open consultation on certain elements of the National Centre ran from July to September 2023. A report analysing the almost 220 responses, which was prepared by an independent research company, was published on 23 May 2024 alongside a response from the Steering Group outlining its key commitments. The report and the Steering Group response, as well as details on the current status of the National Centre project, are available on the dedicated website: www.gov.ie.nationalcentre.