The Minister for Arts and Heritage says Clare County Council has the power to de-list protected buildings, such as those at Blake's Corner in Ennistymon.
Minister Heather Humphreys has made her first public comments on the ongoing row over plans to tackle the infamous traffic blackspot by building a new Inner Relief Road and bridge.
This 'preferred option' from the local authority would have left the derelict Blake's and Linnane's buildings in place, but at least two homes and a business were to be removed.
There have been strong indications until this point that the buildings at Blake's Corner could not be touched, because of their listed status, but speaking on Clare FM's Morning Focus Minister Heather Humphreys said the Council could take a different option, if it decided to do so.
