Archer's Garage - or at least a good copy - will be visible again by the end of this month, according to Dublin Corporation. But conservations fear buildings are still at risk in the city - particularly over bank holiday weekends. The good news is that while there are yet a number of outstanding issues in relation to planning permissions, the reinstatement of the distinctive 1940s garage has been monitored on an on-going basis by Dublin Corporation and is now close to completion.

Archer's Garage was demolished over a bank holiday weekend in June 1999 when the demolition crew were able to close off a nearby road to facilitate the work unhindered by either the corporation or the Garda.

At the time the corporation even took the unusual step of issuing a statement expressing regret that the demolition had occurred, on behalf of the site's owner.

In its statement, released to the media on June 23rd, 1999, Dublin Corporation said: "Sherborough Securities very much regrets the recent demolition of a list one building." Sherborough Securities was controlled by property developer Mr Noel O'Callaghan.

In August of last year an application for a large scale building on the remainder of the site was rejected by An Bord Pleanala as its scale was deemed to completely overwhelm the garage. A new application for an office block is due to be decided by the board in May. The board has also been asked to decide on a concurrent application for alterations to the interior of the garage itself.

Under the initial agreement worked out between Mr O'Callaghan's company and the Corporation, work on the garage was to have been started by September 1999 and the garage was to have been reinstated within one year. A corporation spokeswoman attributed the delays in reinstating the garage to the planning process. However the Corporation also confirmed that it was satisfied that the reinstatement work is now progressing well and last week concrete for the kiosk and first floor was being poured. The shell of the building is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

But An Taisce has issued a warning that the situation with regard to protected buildings is far from secure. The demolition of Archer's Garage followed a number of illegal demolitions, said a spokesman, including that of 2 Millbourne Avenue - a former home of James Joyce. According to An Taisce the corporation should actively warn property owners of the penalties involved in unauthorised demolition. Current penalties include a fine of up to £1 million (€1.27m) and/or a prison sentence of up to two years.