Ministers O’Brien and Noonan welcome funding for Moore St regeneration sub-project

From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage 

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, and Minister of State with special responsibility for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, have jointly welcomed the €12.17m funding provided under URDF Call 2 for the 14-17 Moore Street element of the Moore St. regeneration sub-project.

In total, €430m has been announced in

funding for eight regeneration projects in Dublin under ‘Call 2’ of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). €121.3 million has been announced for projects in the North Inner City. The regeneration of Moore St is an important component of Dublin City Council’s URDF project to revitalise the North Inner City and both Ministers look forward to working with Dublin City Council as they progress the project. It will take place alongside wider redevelopment plans for the upper O’Connell Street and Parnell Street areas for which planning permission is expected to be sought shortly. As part of the regeneration proposals, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has also announced plans for a new underground Metrolink station that will open on to both O’Connell Street and Moore Street that can be expected to breathe new life and vitality back into the capital’s main street.

The funding for the Moore Street national monument will go towards structural and restoration works on the four houses, which will facilitate the opening up of the buildings and the creation of the 1916 Commemorative Centre. The funding will also help with the development of a new museum building to the rear of the historic buildings, providing visitor facilities and exhibitions relating to the rebellion and the military actions in the adjoining laneways and the houses and also the social history of the area.

Commenting, Minister Noonan said,

“I warmly welcome the announcement of URDF funding for the National Monument at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street. The timing is most opportune as it coincides with the finalisation of the report of the Moore Street Advisory Group which I expect to receive in the coming weeks. One of the tasks assigned to the Advisory Group was to consider how best to integrate the National Monument into the wider Dublin Central development site for which a planning application is due to be submitted shortly.”

“The availability of funding to complete the conservation of the National Monument buildings, and to provide new onsite visitor facilities, allows the Advisory Group to move forward with its deliberations in the certainty that there is now in place the means to restore the National Monument itself and to open it to the public so that it resonates the mercantile, social and political history of the area. I am keen to see work begin on the regeneration of this part of the centre of our capital city and to see it being restored to its former glory in a way that is both sensitive to the memory and courage of the men, women and events of 1916 and that will also ensure the viability of its centuries’ old street trading traditions.”

Minister O’Brien added,

“The refurbishment and redevelopment of 14-17 Moore Street represents another expansion of the historic offering in the North Inner City. As we know, Moore Street was central to operations in the Easter Rising and is envisaged to act as a great attraction to visitors and those seeking to learn more about Dublin's role in the struggle for Independence.”

“The creation of a heritage and commemorative centre at 14-17 Moore St will tie in with the GPO and act as an iconic attraction that is expected to become a central component on the increasingly popular history trail within the city. It is expected that this will have a transformative impact on Moore St which is something we all want to see.”

The funding was also warmly welcomed by Minister of State, Patrick O’Donovan, TD, on behalf of the Office of Public Works, which has operational responsibility for the national monument.