asked the Minister for Finance if the ring fort at Laytown, County Meath has been damaged; and, if so, if there are any proposals to restore it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Ring Fort.
1.
A burial mound, or barrow, in the townland of Ninch, near the village of Laytown, County Meath has recently been interfered with. The Commissioners of Public Works have made a preservation order in respect of the monument and the question of what further steps they should take to conserve it is under consideration.
The county council had given instructions that this monument was not to be interfered with by the person who caused the interference. Did the County Council give a direction in this matter before it was made a national monument?
Mr. Kenny
I do not think so. A preservation order must be made first before any steps can be taken by the Office of Public Works to conserve any monument. In the supplementary information I have the county council is not mentioned at all.
My information is that planning permission was sought and refused. The planning permission, if granted, would have led to the monument being interfered with. The application was made before the preservation order was made. In spite of the county council's attitude on the matter the interference was proceeded with. Is there any way the Parliamentary Secretary can obtain compensation from the person who interfered with the monument towards its restoration?
Mr. Kenny
I understand from the information I have that on 26th of April, 1973 the National Museum reported that a mound near Laytown was being bulldozed and requested the Commissioners to undertake protective action under the National Monuments Act. The Commissioners had the monument inspected on the same day and following this their chief archaeologist recommended that the Commissioners assume guardianship of the monument in view of its archaeological importance. The assumption of guardianship would enable the Commissioners to carry out conservation works to the monument. Approximately one third of the mound was destroyed by bulldozing but sufficient survives to enable this work to be carried out.
Before a guardianship order can be made on works undertaken a preservation order must first be issued. This was done on 17th of May, 1973 and all persons concerned were notified of this. That may be what the Deputy is concerned with but I have not been given any information regarding the persons concerned.
Is it not a fact that the Minister for Local Government, on appeal, gave permission for this work to go ahead? I presume that permission must have been given in April.
Mr. Kenny
Work has not been mentioned in the information I have. If the Deputy would tell me who obtained the planning permission I might be in a position to answer this question.
I am led to believe that a builder was moving in to build houses there. Planning permission had been refused by Meath County Council. An appeal was made to the Minister for Local Government who gave permission.
Mr. Kenny
Did the builder know that this was a burial mound?
I feel sure the individual did know this because he is living near at hand.