A Dublin tour guide has urged the Government to turn the GPO into affordable accommodation for public sector workers, like Gardaí and nurses.
This week, the Cabinet will be informed of plans to allow unused sections of the historic building be used for community events.
In the meantime, plans to completely redevelop the site are underway, with a public consultation due to be announced.
On Lunchtime Live, Cathy, a Dublin tour guide, said she would strongly oppose any changes to the original facade - given its historic significance as the focal point of the 1916 Rising.
“I really would be against them doing anything to that because pretty much every guest that I would take on a walking tour, one of the things they're going to ask, ‘Can we see Trinity College? Can we see the GPO?’” she described.
“I would leave it perfectly as it is; I don't know why we just seem to be getting a little bit obsessed.
“I think the GPO of all the buildings in the whole city, it's the most iconic building.
“So, we should do absolutely nothing to the main building.”
Defence Forces Personnel outside the GPO for the 108th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie.Overall, Cathy feels that money spent redeveloping the building “could be going to a lot more useful things”.
She added that O’Connell Street is a “mess” that deserves a bit of tender love and care.
“Let's call it how it is,” she said.
“You can't walk down the street now without open drug dealing, homeless sitting there begging, a whole pile of different nationalities swinging around.
“The place is dirty and grimy and the whole lot; I honestly feel if we were going to get the building over to anything, I'd be giving it over to the police.
“Get extra police into the city and use it as accommodation, affordable accommodation for the police, the nurses, the teachers and the people that we actually do need in the city - like the building is huge.”
Tánaiste Simon Harris has said that the Government is “giving the GPO a new future”.
“Restoring a landmark was never the point, the point is a city centre that works,” he said.
“A capital we are proud of. A place at the heart of our country that belongs to everyone.”
Main image: The GPO. Picture by: Alamy.com
