Moore Street report adopted by councillors

A REPORT has recommended that Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan,

“withholds consent

? for any works on the national monument site at 14-17 Moore Street until a more appropriate setting for the buildings and site is proposed.

The report also calls on Minister Deenihan to commission an independent battlefield site assessment to include the 1916 evacuation route and the area encompassing Moore Street, Moore Lane, Henry Street, the GPO, Upper O’Connell Street and Parnell Street/Rotunda Hospital.

Dublin City Councillors welcomed the Moore Street Advisory Committee’s report and its recommendations were adopted unanimously.

It was further agreed that the recommendations contained in the report would be presented to Minister Deenihan as part of the submissions he requested.

Chair of the Moore Street Advisory Committee, Cllr Nial Ring (Ind), welcomed the endorsement of the report and its recommendations by his fellow councillors.

“Our eight-person committee worked tirelessly over the past four months, accommodating 12 detailed oral presentations as well as considering the 133 submissions received,

? he said.

“I believe that the advisory committee worked together with a unity of purpose which is reflected in the realistic, practical and reasonable recommendations in the report.

“I hope that our vision for Moore Street can become a reality by 2016 – we owe it to the men and women of 1916 to deliver on this.

?

Donaghmede ward councillor Micheal Mac Donncha (SF), who was also on the advisory committee, said:

“The submissions from 133 individuals and groups show that this national monument is regarded widely as of key importance, especially as we approach the centenary of the 1916 Rising.

“The minister should accept the recommendations of the report and take the lead now in ensuring the preservation of this vital element of our national heritage.

?

A spokesperson for Chartered Land said they would examine the Moore Street Advisory Committee’s report in detail when they receive it.

“We are pleased that erroneous reports in recent press coverage that the committee

‘will recommend that the Minister refuse permission’ is not in fact correct,

? the spokesperson told Northside People.

The company made a number of other points on the proposed works to be undertaken to the Moore Street national monument, which included:

“Chartered Land is committed to fully restoring the Moore Street National Monument at 14-17 Moore Street and to establishing a Commemorative Centre there that records the events of 1916. Planning permission was obtained for the proposed works to the national monument as part of the Dublin Central planning consent secured in 2010.

“As required, an application has since been made to Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, for consent to undertake works to the national monument. We have also presented our plans to the All Party Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations and the Dublin City Council Moore Street Committee.

“The buildings are in a much better condition now than they were in 2008 when purchased by Chartered Land. We have cleaned them up, made them secure and weather-tight. For example, Number 16 Moore Street, the most important of the four protected buildings, had no roof when Chartered Land took possession of it.

“More recently works were undertaken to protect and stabilise the front façade of 15 Moore Street following the failure of a window head. All of these works were undertaken with the knowledge and agreement of both the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City Council.

“The real solution is to have the buildings fully restored and that’s what we propose to do. This has become urgent if we are to realise our intention to have the works completed in time for the 2016 centenary.

?

A spokesman for Minister Deenihan said that following the conclusion of the public consultation period, he will undertake an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the proposed works at the national monument.

“He will take into account, inter alia, submissions or observations received during the consultation period,

? he told Northside People.

“Following the conclusion of the EIA, the Minister will proceed to make a decision on the consent application.

“In doing so he will take into account the results of the EIA, the submissions and observations received during the consultation period and the full scope of the proposed works along with the associated demolition works.

?

He added:

“The proposal is for a commemorative centre to the 1916 Rising and its leaders with necessary supporting facilities in the existing buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street.

?