Funding boost for OPW should deliver world-class museum at GPO – Geoghegan

The funding uplift for the Office of Public Works (OPW) as part of the increased Department of Public Expenditure budget from the National Development Plan (NDP) clears way for transformation of the GPO, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy James Geoghegan, Fine Gael’s Dublin spokesperson said that an increase in funding for the OPW following the NDP review must now be used to help deliver a world-class museum at the GPO on O’Connell Street.

The Department of Public Expenditure capital allocation is set to increase to approximately €1.96 billion between 2026 and 2030.

“This uplift in funding represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine one of Ireland’s most iconic buildings”, said Deputy Geoghegan.

“The GPO has the potential to become a destination on the scale of the Guinness Storehouse, which attracted 1.65 million visitors last year alone and 25 million since opening. With 6.6 million overseas tourists coming to Ireland in 2024 and most arriving through Dublin, we should ensure the GPO is the first place they want to visit after landing.

“As part of the implementation of the Dublin City Taskforce, the OPW has been charged with producing a design proposal and consultation on the future use of the GPO within the next 12 months. The government now has the resources in place to move from ambition to action.

“We’ve seen what’s possible when countries invest in telling their stories. The Reichstag in Berlin attracts over 2.5 million visitors a year. In the United States, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has welcomed over 10 million visitors since opening in 2016. Tickets are still in such high demand that they’re regularly sold out.

“Developing the GPO into a premier cultural and historical site would support both tourism and the revitalisation of Dublin’s north inner city.

“This would be a statement of confidence in the future of O’Connell Street and Dublin city centre. The GPO stood at the heart of the 1916 Rising, a symbol of defiance, hope and nationhood. We have the resources to transform it into a world-class museum that does justice to its place in Irish history”, concluded Deputy Geoghegan.