Plans to demolish buildings on Dublin's Moore Street associated with the 1916 Rising have been blocked by Minister for Heritage Jimmy Deenihan.
Mr Deenihan approved the development of a commemorative centre at 14-17 Moore Street, which is a national monument, but has ruled out the demolition of “any 1916 structure” or works underneath the national monument.
The decision relates to plans by developer Joe O’Reilly’s Chartered Land for the €900 million “Dublin Central” shopping centre. Chartered Land was granted planning permission in 2010 for the 2.7 hectare development on a site stretching from the former Carlton cinema on O’Connell Street to Moore Street.
National monument
However parts of the proposed development took in buildings that had been declared a national monument because of their use during the rising, which meant ministerial consent was required for any work which might affect them.
The order of consent which has now been signed by Mr Deenihan approves the creation of a commemorative centre at the national monument, involving the full repair and conservation of these buildings. However, it precludes the demolition of any structures, or removal of material from the national monument, which dates from or before 1916.
It also prohibits the provision of an underground car park within the boundary of the national monument site and the demolition of the facades of 15 and 16 Moore Lane.
While Chartered Land had said it had put the Dublin Central development on hold “pending a recovery in the Irish economy”, the consent granted is conditional on development taking place within the next 12 months.
The company must submit revised designs to the Minister within nine months and start work within three months of that date.
The granting of the consent order would ensure the preservation of the national monument and the return of the buildings to their condition at the time of the rising, Mr Deenihan said.
“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.”
He said he hoped the work would be completed ahead of the rising’s centenary.
A spokeswoman for Chartered Land said the company would review the Minister’s decision with its advisers and would not be making a further comment at this time. Nama currently has a charge over the development but the agency said it did not comment on individual debtors.
Deterioration
Descendants of the leaders of the 1916 Rising had become increasingly concerned about the deteriorating condition of the monument and surrounding buildings. James Connolly Heron, great-grandson of James Connolly, yesterday welcomed the Minister's decision, but said he had yet to fully assess the consent order.
Chairman of Dublin City Council’s Moore Street Advisory Committee, independent councillor Nial Ring, said the committee would meet the developer with a view to revising plans for the street.
