A short programme of court mandated works is now underway at the National Monument at Nos 14-17 Moore Street in Dublin. The works, which have been approved by the High Court, will help to safeguard and weather proof the National Monument buildings, which are under the ownership of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The works will be carried out in two phases:

• Phase One: Removal of the 1916 banner, including any necessary repointing of facades, and the concrete filling of currently open voids to underpin the structures of the four houses.
• Phase Two: (expected to begin after the builders' holidays) Full renewal of all roofs, rebuilding front parapets and chimneys, which are in poor condition, with existing brick and essential works to the interior of the buildings, including additional temporary support propping and protections for original fabric, fittings and joinery..

Speaking yesterday Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht Minister Heather Humphreys said: “My Department secured approval from the High Court to carry out these urgent and essential works which are designed to stabilise the structures of the buildings at Nos 14-17 Moore Street and to protect them from the elements. The intention is to prevent the buildings, which are in a very fragile state, from falling into further disrepair. The first phase of the works will get under way tomorrow, with the second phase expected to start following the builders' holidays. All of the works will be overseen and monitored by my Department.”

Phase One:

• The first phase comprises the removal of the façade banner and the closing up of currently open underpinning works to support the structures of the four houses.
• As part of the removal of the banner the timber battens and fixing plugs will be removed and mortar joints where fixings formed will be made good with lime mortar pointing, flush finish and brushed to expose aggregate.

Phase Two:

• This second phase of works will entail full repair and renewal of all roofs, chimneys and rainwater goods. This work will involve removal of existing roof coverings; repairs to the timber roof structure; renewal of roof coverings with natural slate (any existing sound natural slates will be reused) and provision of lead flashings for weather protection.
• As the roof repairs are permanent, automatic opening vents (opening roof lights), which are part of the fire safety system for any future public access to the buildings, will be installed, to avoid undoing roof slating and flashing in the future.
• The upper parts of the front parapets of the four buildings are in poor condition and will need to taken down and rebuilt, using the existing brick. Due to the poor condition of all the chimney stacks, loose brickwork masonry will be dismantled and rebuilt, reusing any sound salvage bricks.
• To ensure the interior of the buildings are protected from weather during these roof works, a protective covering will be installed while the roof renewal works are underway.
• The Plunkett sign currently on the façade of No 16 will be taken down to accommodate erection of necessary scaffolding. The sign will be retained on site.
• The two-storey brick building which lies to the rear of No 14, which is currently in a precarious condition, will be repaired and re-roofed, as will the small single storey annexe to the rear of No 16.
• Works to be carried out internally include the securing of temporary support propping which is currently in place.
• Internal joinery elements such as floorboards; skirting; door architraves; window surrounds, which had been temporarily removed will be returned to the rooms they originally came from, to allow for their later reinstatement as part of future permanent repairs and restoration of the National Monument.