THE historic GPO building in Dublin city centre is to be revamped to include shops, a museum and an events space as part of plan to go before Government next week, the Irish Sun can reveal.
Last year, then Taoiseach Simon Harris set up a taskforce to develop a plan to rejuvenate the Capital and make it safer, cleaner and a more attractive place to live and visit.
The taskforce – chaired by An Post CEO David Redmond – recommended a series of changes including adding 1,000 more gardai to the city, converting derelict sites and increasing public transport at night.
The report came in for criticism from some Dublin TDs who questioned why there was no funding attached to the plan or set aside in the budget to enact the recommendations.
Since the report was published, officials from a range of Government departments have been putting together a report on how to action the taskforce’s recommendations.
As part of this, a plan to rejuvenate O’Connell Street has been produced which includes a complete refurbishment of the historic GPO building.
The plan to redevelop the GPO has now been finalised and is ready to go before the Cabinet for consideration.
The plan is expected to go before the Cabinet next week.
The Irish Sun understands that the revamped GPO would include a retail space, an events space, offices and a museum under the proposals.
Significant funding for the revamp will be allocated in the review of the National Development Plan which is set to be announced next month.
The proposals for the GPO will be put out for consultation to gauge public opinion about the plan.
Government sources claim that the revamp of the GPO will be a “landmark project” that will be “integral to the rejuvenation of the city centre.”
Separately, metalworkers revealed the Molly Malone statue needs “urgent “care after “daily abuse”.
An inspection of Dublin’s famous statue of Molly Malone discovered it was not just her bosom that was in distress but that the entire sculpture was unstable with multiple broken fittings.
A report by expert metalworkers explained how two of the pins that held Molly in place were completely destroyed.
The plans include a retail space, events space, offices and a museum[/caption]
