Fianna Fáil plans to turn Moore Street into next Temple Bar

A historical quarter, along the lines of the Temple Bar cultural quarter, should be developed on Moore Street, Fianna Fáil has said.

The party on Friday published a Bill to regenerate and preserve the entire street and its surrounding lanes, and not just the National Monument buildings at 14 to 17 Moore Street.

Minister for Arts and Heritage Heather Humphreys last week announced the Government would buy the buildings, the last headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Rising, for €4 million.

Number 16 Moore Street was the location where the decision was taken to surrender on Saturday April 29th, 1916. It was declared a national monument in 2007 by then minister for the environment Dick Roche, but has been derelict for years.

Fianna Fáil councillor Paul McAuliffe said the Government’s plans were inadequate.

“The Government plan for the National Monument at Moore Street lacks vision and does not do justice to the surrounding area,” he said. “Today we have put forward a more comprehensive and appropriate plan to ensure that the birthplace of the Republic is truly recognised for its significance. Our plan will see the entire Moore Street area redeveloped and the historical and economic significance of the site preserved.”

Most of the street is owned by Chartered Land, the company of Dundrum shopping centre developer Joe O'Reilly, which has planning permission for a shopping complex on a 2.7 hectare site stretching from the former Carlton cinema on O'Connell Street to Moore Street.

While planning permission was granted for the development, known as Dublin Central, in 2010, no work has started and a spokeswoman for Chartered Land said the scheme was “on hold pending a recovery in the Irish economy”.

The company’s property on the street, including the National Monument buildings, are in the control of Nama.

The Fianna Fáil Bill contains provisions which would allow the compulsory purchase of the sites by the State in order to ensure the preservation, renewal, restoration or redevelopment of the street.

Patrick Cooney of the Save 16 Moore Street Committee said he supported Fianna Fail's plans.

“The Government plans only to protect the National Monument buildings, and after 14 years campaigning I think this was a given, and to be honest we aren’t impresses with that. This Bill goes much further.”