The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, has informed Sligo town council that a 19th century disused grain store is listed as a protected structure.
Demolition work on the 150-year-old former Harper Campbell warehouse in Sligo town came to an abrupt halt last March when local residents placed a picket on the site.
Seven of the 12 borough council members had voted against demolishing the building. However, the council went ahead with the work on the grounds that the building was a danger to public safety. Earlier this week, the High Court refused to make a temporary injunction prohibiting the demolition permanent.
The Minister's decision means that members of the borough council will now have to vote again on whether to demolish the building.