One of Dublin's best known buildings could open to the public.
The Irish Examiner reports that as part of a proposed masterplan for the Custom House, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy has said its grounds should be available to the public.
While turning the central area of the building into a public cultural space has also been proposed.
A cost-benefit analysis is to be carried out on the project.
The building, which dates back to the 1790s and was set on fire during the War of Independence, is used by the Department of Housing.
The Office of Public Works advised the Department of Housing’s Management Board in 2019 that a variety of works needed to be carried out on the Custom House in order to address a number of issues and preserve the fabric of the building.
The OPW advised that given its historic importance that these would be best addressed through the production of a Masterplan, which is currently being developed.
It's been almost three decades since there have been any significant investment in the building.
Ian Lumley is Head of Advocacy with An Taisce;
"This is very welcome, the Custom House is not just one of the most important buildings in Dublin, it's a national landmark."
