An application is lodged to demolish Department of Health headquarters Hawkins House.
Hawkins House, the headquarters of the Department of Health, is one of the last remaining buildings in the block bordered by Hawkins Street, Tara Street, Townsend Street and Poolbeg Street in Dublin city centre.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has lodged a planning application with Dublin City Council to demolish Hawkins House, regarded by many as one of the capital's least attractive buildings.
A separate application by receivers working on behalf of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) is also being made to rebuild on the neighbouring Apollo house site.
The OPW has released images of the building they hope will replace Hawkins House. The planning permission process could take up to a year.
The new office block will be around the same height but much bulkier. It will have a public plaza on the ground floor with restaurants and shops.
It will probably cost around 50 million euro.
The 400 staff in the Department of Health will be moved to the former Bank of Ireland headquarters on Baggot Street.
The proposal to raze Hawkins House is part of a larger plan to regenerate the area between Tara Street and College Green, known as the George's Quay Local Area Plan.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 June 2016. The reporter is Conor Hunt.
