Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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390. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views of the current state of the 1916 National Monument at Moore Street/Moore Lane, Dublin; his plans to make a decision on the future of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36405/13]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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415. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when he will make a decision on the future of the preservation of Numbers 14, 15 and 16 Moore Street Dublin 1; if he is satisfied that any future development of the site will be sensitive to the historic nature of the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36480/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 415 together.

The Deputies will be aware that I made a determination earlier this week on the application for consent from Chartered Land Ltd for proposed works to the national monument site at Nos. 14 - 17 Moore Street. The site is protected by a Preservation Order under the National Monuments Acts due to its historical importance as the location of the final Council of War and last headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Rising.

Because of the Preservation Order any works at, or in proximity to, the national monument require my consent under the National Monuments Acts. As part of the consent process I have undertaken an Environmental Impact Assessment and considered all the various submissions and observations I have received in relation to the proposed works.

My decision on the consent application approved the applicant's proposals for the creation of a 1916 commemorative centre on the site, involving the full repair and conservation of the four buildings. However, it did not approve the demolition of any structures or the removal of any material from the site which date from or before 1916. Neither did I consent to the provision of an underground car park within the boundary of the national monument site or to the demolition of the Moore Lane facades of Nos. 15 and 16.

The consent I have given is conditional on a revised project design being submitted to me for approval within 9 months that takes full account of the elements of the proposal for which consent has been refused and the conditions attached to the approved works. A further condition requires substantive works to commence on site within 3 months of the approval of the revised proposals.

The Moore Street national monument is of huge significance and importance. It is highly appropriate that it would be preserved and that an appropriate commemorative centre would be put in place to mark the momentous events which took place there. Having carefully considered all the relevant factors, I believe that the decision I have made on the consent application is the best way to ensure that work can take place to restore and conserve the national monument, to develop an appropriate commemorative centre there and also to ensure that the monument site is fully protected for future generations.

I would hope that the consent applicant can now revise the plans for the Moore Street national monument, in consultation with the planning authority, Dublin City Council, and in line with the conditions that have been set, so that an appropriate commemorative centre can be in place for 2016. I will assist and support that process to the fullest extent possible insofar as my role under the National Monuments Acts is concerned.