· Consent allows for creation of commemorative centre at national monument
· Consent rules out demolition of any 1916 structure, or works underneath, national monument
Tuesday, July 16th - Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has today signed an order of consent for works at the Moore Street National Monument.
The order of consent signed by the Minister approves the creation of a commemorative centre at the national monument at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street, involving the full repair and conservation of these buildings. The matter was discussed this morning at Cabinet.
However, the order of consent does not approve the demolition of any structures at the national monument, or removal of material from the national monument, which date from or before 1916. In addition, the order of consent does not approve works for the provision of an underground car park within the boundary of the national monument site, or the demolition of the Moore Lane facades of Nos. 15 and 16.
No. 16 Moore St was the final headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Rising prior to surrender. Nos. 14, 15, 16 and 17 Moore St were preserved as a national monument by order in 2007 meaning that any works affecting the monument require the written consent of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Minister Deenihan has commented:
"The Moore Street National Monument is of huge significance and importance. It is highly appropriate that the monument would be preserved and that an appropriate commemorative centre would be put in place to mark the momentous events which took place here.
"I am consenting to works to conserve and restore the monument, and am protecting all structures which existed in 1916. I am not consenting to the demolition of any 1916 structure or to works underneath the monument.
"This is the best way to ensure that work can take place at the national monument to develop an appropriate commemorative centre, and return these buildings to what they would have looked like at the time of the Rising, whilst also ensuing that the monument is fully protected for future generations.
"I would hope that the applicant can now revise the plans for the Moore Street National Monument, in line with the conditions that have been set, so that an appropriate commemorative centre can be planned for 2016."
The consent of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is conditional on a revised project design being submitted to him 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 Minister’s approval of the revised proposals.
Stringent conditions with regard to the conduct of the works - relating to the protection of the national monument while work is ongoing, the use of appropriate materials in the restoration, the supervision of the work by his Department, the conduct of archaeological investigations throughout the project and measures to alleviate environmental impacts such as noise, dust, vibration - have also been applied.
Note to Editors
Background
No. 16 Moore St was the final headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Rising prior to surrender. In January 2007, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government placed a Preservation Order on Nos. 14 to 17 Moore St under the National Monuments Acts. The effect of the Preservation Order is that any works affecting the site require the prior written consent of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
In June 2011, an application for consent was made to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for a range of works at the monument including for the provision of a commemorative centre and facilities for visitors, and also the demolition of the Moore Lane facades at Nos. 15 and 16.
Decision
Under the consent signed by Minister Deenihan today, the following works will be allowed:
· The creation of a commemorative centre at the national monument at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street;
· The full repair and conservation of the buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street;
· The demolition of non-original (post 1916) additions and partitions in Nos. 14-17 Moore Street; and,
· The demolition of Nos. 13, 18 and 19 Moore Street (which contain no pre 1916 elements) - as already approved by Dublin City and An Bord Pleanála - subject to conditions relating to the protection of the national monument while this work is being undertaken;
Under the consent signed by Minister Deenihan today, the following works will not be allowed:
· Demolition of any structures or removal of material which date from or before 1916;
· Works for the provision of an underground car park within the boundary of the national monument site;
· The demolition of the Moore Lane facades of Nos. 15 and 16.
Wider Site
The Minister, in making his decision on the consent application under the National Monuments Acts, is confined to adjudicating on the proposed works to the national monument site and its immediate proximity.
The Minister’s prime concern is to secure the preservation of the national monument structures and his consideration of the consent application has focussed on and been informed by that priority.
In making this decision, the Minister has no role in relation to decisions on development in the wider area which have already been adjudicated upon by Dublin City Council and An Bord Pleanála. These are planning matters adjudicated under the planning and development code.