SIPTU has welcomed the decision of Dublin City Council to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of Liberty Hall subject to a number of conditions.

The union's General Secretary, Joe O'Flynn, explained that SIPTU and its professional advisors will be considering the various conditions attached to the planning permission over the coming days.

SIPTU submitted its revised planning application for the redevelopment of Liberty Hall in late December 2011. The 'new' Liberty Hall – if it receives planning permission – will consist of 22 storeys, 17 for office and meeting room space and five for various public and cultural purposes including:

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•A welcoming double-height public entrance area

•A theatre and conference centre

•A four-storey area at the top of the building comprising of a major Heritage Centre, focusing on the history of the country’s labour movement, and a Sky Deck which will provide an unprecedented panoramic view of the city.

The decision to proceed with the redevelopment of Liberty Hall, following a detailed consultative process, was based on the reality that the present building is unable to meet the operational needs of the union in the 21st century – the union’s membership has doubled since the current Liberty Hall structure was built almost 50 years ago. The building has remained largely unchanged since 1965 and the dysfunctional nature of the space and how it is configured has meant that re-development is the only way forward. SIPTU also wants to substantially improve the environmental performance of Liberty Hall in order to reduce running costs and cut the union's carbon footprint.

(CD)