The Minister for the Environment, Noel Dempsey, has given the go-ahead for the construction of the controversial Monument of Light in O'Connell Street in Dublin. The structure, known as the Spike, is due to erected on the site once occupied by Nelson's Pillar.
The Minister's decision clears the way for work to begin on the £40 million redevelopment of O'Connell Street in Dublin in the New Year. The High Court had ruled that Dublin Corporation should have prepared an environmental impact statement on the proposed structure. Mr. Dempsey made his decision to allow the development to proceed after studying the Environmental Impact Statement.
The proposed height of the Monument is unchanged at 120 metres, which is more than twice the height of Liberty Hall. The proposal to erect the stainless steel conical structure caused much-heated debate over the impact of its presence on O'Connell Street. The Monument was designed by a London-based architect-engineer, Ian Ritchie and was selected from 205 entries to a competition.
