WORK HAS begun on the restoration of Leinster Lawn after 10 years’ use as a Dáil car park. The lawn was dug up and the area covered in tarmac to provide extra parking during the building of offices in Leinster House.
The extra 68 car parking spaces were used by Dáil officials, party political staff and journalists. TDs and Senators have their own reserved parking area.
An undertaking was given when the lawn, on the Merrion Square side of the 18th-century Leinster House building, was dug up in 1999 that it would be restored to its original condition. Work has finally begun on the project which will cost €230,000.
Fine Gael Dublin South TD Alan Shatter has condemned the project as “lunacy” at a time of unprecedented economic crisis.
Chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, Tom Hayes from Tipperary South, who is a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, said they had no option but to restore the lawn.
“We have to abide by the rules and regulations. The Houses of the Oireachtas couldn’t be seen to break the planning regulations when ordinary people have to do it,” he said.
A spokesman for the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, also backed the plan to restore the lawn. Mr Gormley believed the people of Dublin would prefer the lawn to “an ugly car park”, said a spokesman. The Office of Public Works plans to hire 29 extra car park spaces in other city centre locations to compensate for the loss of the lawn.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label leinster house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leinster house. Show all posts
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Shatter calls for halt to Dáil lawn plans
The Department of the Environment yesterday said a Fine Gael TD appeared to know little about the workings of the Oireachtas when he issued a statement criticising the restoration of the lawn at Leinster House.
Alan Shatter had called for an immediate stop to plans to restore the lawn, parts of which were removed 10 years ago to provide parking spaces for politicians, public servants and journalists.
Mr Shatter said the project will cost €230,000 plus an additional annual expense for the rental of parking spaces, 68 of which will be lost when the lawn is fully restored.
However, Minister for the Environment John Gormley’s spokesman said the decision to proceed with the project was not his responsibility.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Alan Shatter had called for an immediate stop to plans to restore the lawn, parts of which were removed 10 years ago to provide parking spaces for politicians, public servants and journalists.
Mr Shatter said the project will cost €230,000 plus an additional annual expense for the rental of parking spaces, 68 of which will be lost when the lawn is fully restored.
However, Minister for the Environment John Gormley’s spokesman said the decision to proceed with the project was not his responsibility.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 10 May 2009
€750k dispute over Dáil car park
THE government is to press ahead with a €750,000 restoration of the lawn at Leinster House despite being advised that the work could be undone by planned refurbishment works at the buildings.
A paper from the Offices of the Houses of the Oireachtas said there was "no logic" in spending public money on the lawn this summer when a massive restoration project to make safe the crumbling buildings at Leinster House was still needed.
The lawn had been turned into a surface car park to facilitate a major extension of parliamentary facilities as part of the Leinster House 2000 project. However, it had been given only temporary planning permission and the government is currently in breach of planning laws in continuing to use it as a car park.
A committee, comprising the secretary general of the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas and four senior managers, recommended that the Office of Public Works (OPW) should seek a five-year extension for the parking facility.
Their position paper, obtained by the Sunday Tribune, says: "There is no logic in spending public money in restoring the lawn at this point in time when there will be further significant disruption to car parking as a result of necessary works to Leinster House in the summer recesses 2009-2010 and subsequent years, and which may also in fact adversely impact on the restored lawn itself."
The government, however, is determined to push ahead with its proposals, fearing a backlash over the use of what is effectively an illegal surface car park.
A briefing document from the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission says: "Office of Public Works are pushing to restore the Merrion Lawn. Their reasons are: the 'Part 9' planning permission for Leinster House 2000 only provided for a temporary car park. If the lawn is not restored, OPW fear that legal action could be taken against them, or in the future they will not be granted 'Part 9' planning concessions. The subject of the lawns gets frequent negative media coverage."
It says there are only three options available including the €750,000 restoration of the lawn which would create a "parking shortage" and would not remove the "eyesore" of cars , which would continue to be parked around the lawn.
The second option was to do nothing, which would save on costs, retain the parking space but have a "negative impact that is bad for public relations".
The third option is to have the temporary planning permission extended and to allow the restoration of the lawn to go ahead at the same time as a proposed refurbishment of Leinster House.
Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show that the OPW and the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission have been under pressure from a number of government ministers to replace the lawn.
Minister John Gormley wrote to the Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue last November saying a number of "dismayed" people had been in contact with him to complain about the lawn. Gormley wrote: "I am of the opinion that these beautiful and historic gardens should indeed be restored." In February, transport minister Noel Dempsey wrote to the Office of Public Works saying it was "simply unthinkable" to retain surface car parking.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
A paper from the Offices of the Houses of the Oireachtas said there was "no logic" in spending public money on the lawn this summer when a massive restoration project to make safe the crumbling buildings at Leinster House was still needed.
The lawn had been turned into a surface car park to facilitate a major extension of parliamentary facilities as part of the Leinster House 2000 project. However, it had been given only temporary planning permission and the government is currently in breach of planning laws in continuing to use it as a car park.
A committee, comprising the secretary general of the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas and four senior managers, recommended that the Office of Public Works (OPW) should seek a five-year extension for the parking facility.
Their position paper, obtained by the Sunday Tribune, says: "There is no logic in spending public money in restoring the lawn at this point in time when there will be further significant disruption to car parking as a result of necessary works to Leinster House in the summer recesses 2009-2010 and subsequent years, and which may also in fact adversely impact on the restored lawn itself."
The government, however, is determined to push ahead with its proposals, fearing a backlash over the use of what is effectively an illegal surface car park.
A briefing document from the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission says: "Office of Public Works are pushing to restore the Merrion Lawn. Their reasons are: the 'Part 9' planning permission for Leinster House 2000 only provided for a temporary car park. If the lawn is not restored, OPW fear that legal action could be taken against them, or in the future they will not be granted 'Part 9' planning concessions. The subject of the lawns gets frequent negative media coverage."
It says there are only three options available including the €750,000 restoration of the lawn which would create a "parking shortage" and would not remove the "eyesore" of cars , which would continue to be parked around the lawn.
The second option was to do nothing, which would save on costs, retain the parking space but have a "negative impact that is bad for public relations".
The third option is to have the temporary planning permission extended and to allow the restoration of the lawn to go ahead at the same time as a proposed refurbishment of Leinster House.
Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show that the OPW and the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission have been under pressure from a number of government ministers to replace the lawn.
Minister John Gormley wrote to the Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue last November saying a number of "dismayed" people had been in contact with him to complain about the lawn. Gormley wrote: "I am of the opinion that these beautiful and historic gardens should indeed be restored." In February, transport minister Noel Dempsey wrote to the Office of Public Works saying it was "simply unthinkable" to retain surface car parking.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 27 March 2009
Removal of Dáil car park opposed by some members of commission
THE TEMPORARY car park in Leinster House, which covered a historic lawn when it was created nearly a decade ago, is to be removed this summer, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission decided this week.
However, the decision to restore Leinster Lawn was not easily made, according to sources, and a number of members of the commission opposed the motion proposed by Fianna Fáil TD Michael Mulcahy.
Leinster House has 293 parking spaces which are used by members of the Oireachtas, some Oireachtas officials and some journalists. It will have 225 once the work is completed.
The Office of Public Works is prepared to offer 29 replacement spaces at other government institutions, but a spokesman last night said: “We will not be buying new stock.”
Minister of State at the OPW Martin Mansergh urged the members of the commission – which is responsible for running Leinster House – to agree to the change, which is unpopular with many in the buildings.
Leinster House, he said, could not seek to retain a development that should have disappeared years ago as part of the planning conditions that were given when a major extension called LH2000 was built.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey wrote a strongly worded letter to the commission, supporting the removal of the parking places and arguing that politicians had to give a lead on public transport.
The restoration of the lawn will be done by the OPW at a cost of approximately €200,000 – a far cry from the €500,000 figure that was pencilled in for the work in earlier plans.
That earlier figure was based on the assumed use of contractors to do the job. Using OPW staff will be more economical, Mr Mansergh told the commission.
Leinster Lawn, which faces Merrion Square in front of the Houses of the Oireachtas, was replaced by a car park in July 1998 as a temporary measure during the construction of LH200.
The planning permission for the work at the time required the lawn be reinstated after the building work was done, but this did not happen because the OPW deferred the work on the grounds that an underground car park was to be built.
The decision on Wednesday means that the car park, which would have cost €25 million and would have been open to the public, has now been deferred indefinitely because of the cutbacks.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
However, the decision to restore Leinster Lawn was not easily made, according to sources, and a number of members of the commission opposed the motion proposed by Fianna Fáil TD Michael Mulcahy.
Leinster House has 293 parking spaces which are used by members of the Oireachtas, some Oireachtas officials and some journalists. It will have 225 once the work is completed.
The Office of Public Works is prepared to offer 29 replacement spaces at other government institutions, but a spokesman last night said: “We will not be buying new stock.”
Minister of State at the OPW Martin Mansergh urged the members of the commission – which is responsible for running Leinster House – to agree to the change, which is unpopular with many in the buildings.
Leinster House, he said, could not seek to retain a development that should have disappeared years ago as part of the planning conditions that were given when a major extension called LH2000 was built.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey wrote a strongly worded letter to the commission, supporting the removal of the parking places and arguing that politicians had to give a lead on public transport.
The restoration of the lawn will be done by the OPW at a cost of approximately €200,000 – a far cry from the €500,000 figure that was pencilled in for the work in earlier plans.
That earlier figure was based on the assumed use of contractors to do the job. Using OPW staff will be more economical, Mr Mansergh told the commission.
Leinster Lawn, which faces Merrion Square in front of the Houses of the Oireachtas, was replaced by a car park in July 1998 as a temporary measure during the construction of LH200.
The planning permission for the work at the time required the lawn be reinstated after the building work was done, but this did not happen because the OPW deferred the work on the grounds that an underground car park was to be built.
The decision on Wednesday means that the car park, which would have cost €25 million and would have been open to the public, has now been deferred indefinitely because of the cutbacks.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Wanted: car spaces for TDs
NEW CAR-PARKING spaces for senior Leinster House civil servants and politicians are to be found in Dublin city centre, as the Office of Public Works concedes there is no longer an argument for keeping the “temporary” car park open on Leinster Lawn.
Officials are compiling a list of alternative parking spaces, which is to be given to the House’s Oireachtas Commission next week.
Leinster Lawn was replaced by a car park in July 1998 as a “temporary” measure to allow the construction of the wing known as Leinster House 2000.
The new parking spaces on the lawn went mainly to senior staff and a handful of politicians. Planning permission from Dublin city council required that the lawn be reinstated by 2000, but the members of the Oireachtas Commission decided to ignore the rule pending the building of a two-storey underground car park.
However, the Minister responsible for the OPW, Martin Mansergh, has let it be known he will not spend any more money than is absolutely necessary on Leinster House and has even refused to strengthen the top floor, which is consequently now empty for safety reasons.
Various suggestions that the underground car park would pay for itself by charging members of the public at weekends were put forward but rejected on security and economic grounds.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Officials are compiling a list of alternative parking spaces, which is to be given to the House’s Oireachtas Commission next week.
Leinster Lawn was replaced by a car park in July 1998 as a “temporary” measure to allow the construction of the wing known as Leinster House 2000.
The new parking spaces on the lawn went mainly to senior staff and a handful of politicians. Planning permission from Dublin city council required that the lawn be reinstated by 2000, but the members of the Oireachtas Commission decided to ignore the rule pending the building of a two-storey underground car park.
However, the Minister responsible for the OPW, Martin Mansergh, has let it be known he will not spend any more money than is absolutely necessary on Leinster House and has even refused to strengthen the top floor, which is consequently now empty for safety reasons.
Various suggestions that the underground car park would pay for itself by charging members of the public at weekends were put forward but rejected on security and economic grounds.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 26 January 2009
Oireachtas car park must go, says OPW
PLANS TO build an underground car park under Leinster House must be indefinitely deferred and the temporary car park on Leinster Lawn removed, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has said.
Leinster Lawn, which faces Merrion Square in front of the Houses of the Oireachtas, was replaced by a car park in July 1998 as a temporary measure during the construction of new facilities for Leinster House.
The planning permission for the work at the time required the lawn be reinstated after the works on Leinster House were completed in 2000. However, this was never done. The OPW deferred the restoration of the lawn on the grounds that an underground car park was planned for the politicians and staff of the Houses.
Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Martin Mansergh told the last meeting of the Oireachtas Commission, a 10-member group of TDs and Senators which is responsible for the facilities at Leinster House, that there was no money for the car park and it could not proceed in the medium term. However, the OPW was committed to honouring the planning requirement to restore the lawn.
Minutes of the meeting show the commission was asked to either request that the OPW restore the lawn or seek an extension of planning permission for the temporary car park. The commission, chaired by Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, questioned the value for money of restoring the lawn and incurring the additional expense of leasing necessary car parking spaces for Oireachtas members.
Instead of making a decision the commission has asked the OPW to report back on a number of issues. The commission is seeking an assurance that if the lawn is restored members will still have parking on Leinster House grounds; that staff who would lose their parking spaces as a result would have “alternative parking solutions”; and that the OPW conduct an analysis of current usage of the Leinster Lawn parking.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Leinster Lawn, which faces Merrion Square in front of the Houses of the Oireachtas, was replaced by a car park in July 1998 as a temporary measure during the construction of new facilities for Leinster House.
The planning permission for the work at the time required the lawn be reinstated after the works on Leinster House were completed in 2000. However, this was never done. The OPW deferred the restoration of the lawn on the grounds that an underground car park was planned for the politicians and staff of the Houses.
Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Martin Mansergh told the last meeting of the Oireachtas Commission, a 10-member group of TDs and Senators which is responsible for the facilities at Leinster House, that there was no money for the car park and it could not proceed in the medium term. However, the OPW was committed to honouring the planning requirement to restore the lawn.
Minutes of the meeting show the commission was asked to either request that the OPW restore the lawn or seek an extension of planning permission for the temporary car park. The commission, chaired by Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, questioned the value for money of restoring the lawn and incurring the additional expense of leasing necessary car parking spaces for Oireachtas members.
Instead of making a decision the commission has asked the OPW to report back on a number of issues. The commission is seeking an assurance that if the lawn is restored members will still have parking on Leinster House grounds; that staff who would lose their parking spaces as a result would have “alternative parking solutions”; and that the OPW conduct an analysis of current usage of the Leinster Lawn parking.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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