Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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154. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the development of the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter; and if he is aware of the decay and degeneration of the currently vacant Ambassador Theatre in Dublin 1. [6880/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Parnell Square Cultural Quarter (PSCQ) project was included as part of the overall North Inner City Concept Area 1 (NICCA) proposal from Dublin City Council (DCC) under Call 2 of my Department’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) programme.

The URDF, which was established as part of the NDP in 2018 with an allocation of €2 billion is providing up to 75% funding for local authority led projects. These projects will enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns, while also ensuring that more parts of our urban areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit.

PSCQ on the north side of Parnell Square will deliver 11,000sq.m of cultural facilities, the centrepiece of which will be a new City Library and a range of cultural facilities including a music hub, design space, innovation hub, a conference centre, education centre, café and exhibition area all connected by a new high quality public plaza.

Another project, the acquisition and refurbishment of 41 Parnell Square, a protected structure with historic significance, once home of Irish Foresters, will cater for future cultural and artistic needs in the areas.

Parnell Square Public Realm Works will develop a civic space to link the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter buildings, creating a space for pedestrians that will serve as a social and recreational connection point.

My Department assessed the Preliminary Business Case for the PSCQ project in December 2023, and have requested further information from DCC in this regard. Responsibility for the advancement of URDF supported projects through the various stages of development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant Local Authority. My Department will deal expeditiously with this project when the further information which has been requested is received.

My Department is aware of concerns relating to the Ambassador Theatre but it should be noted that the property is not in the ownership of Dublin City Council and was not included in the Councils NICCA Proposal which has been approved for funding under the URDF programme.