Soc Dems TD will do 'somersaults' if RTÉ is put into GPO
Proposals were made to the task force for use of the GPO; including a museum, a leading government department or the relocation of the national broadcaster RTÉ
by Louise Burne · Irish MirrorSocial Democrats TD Gary Gannon has said he will do "somersaults" if Taoiseach Simon Harris announces a budgeted and detailed plan to move RTÉ to the GPO.
The Taoiseach brought a memo to Cabinet on Tuesday to approve the publication of the Dublin City Centre Taskforce.
It contained 10 major initiatives to revive the city centre, including significant recommendations on the revitalisation of O’Connell Street with a particular focus on the General Post Office (GPO) building.
READ MORE: Dublin City taskforce recommends redevelopment of GPO
Proposals were made to the task force for its use, including a museum, a leading government department or the relocation of the national broadcaster RTÉ.
Speaking in Leinster House on Tuesday morning, Mr Gannon, a TD for Dublin Central, said that it was a "ludicrous suggestion to a question nobody was asking".
He said any suggestions in the Dublin City Taskforce report needed to be fully funded and thought out. He also called for a "static police force" and initiatives that would make the city more "liveable".
Despite initially saying the idea was "ludicrous" to suggest moving RTÉ to the GPO, Mr Gannon said there would be "nothing wrong with that idea and it would be great if it came to fruition".
"What's wrong with it is an idea like that leads to long-term planning," he continued.
"It would need budgetary support. It would need drivers from the state. I don't believe that's going to happen.
"I think that's my problem. I've [heard] a multitude of different promises for O'Connell Street over the years.
"I could probably name about 14 different task forces that are set up around O’Connell Street. I would be able to wallpaper my house with the type of plans that have been announced by the inner city and surrounds of O’Connell Street.
"All the while the drugs remained, the crime remained and State indifference remained."
Asked to clarify if he was in favour of RTÉ moving to O’Connell Street, he said he was in favour of the street being "revitalised".
He continued: "If there is a suggestion that is backed up with a plan for a state body such as RTÉ or any other state agency who can bring viability to that area, that's absolutely fine.
"When the Taoiseach makes his report next week, which has sat on his desk for the last five weeks, I would like him to say, if that is something he's going to do, here's the budget, here's the timeline, here's the transition, here's what will happen on the Donnybrook site.
"Then I will absolutely come over here and do somersaults in favour of the plan.
"But until that point, it's just pie in the sky."
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