Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Feb 1998

Vol. 486 No. 3

Written Answers. - Archaeological Heritage.

Paul McGrath

Question:

236 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the measures, if any, which have been taken by the Office of Public Works to ensure that material and information of archaeological interest is preserved since planning permission currently exists for a site (details supplied) in County Westmeath in view of the importance of this site to the area; when this site was first brought to the attention of the national monument's service; the manner in which this was brought to their attention; when it was first visited by an archaeologist from her Department; if she will give details of this first assessment; the subsequent visits, if any, there have been by this archaeologist; if so, when these visits took place; the alterations, if any, there were to the plans originally inspected by her Department; if these alterations were brought to the attention of her Department; if so, by whom and the date of this notification; if a subsequent visit or visits took place to the site by her Department's personnel; if an archaeological impact statement was sought by the national monuments section; if so, when this occurred; if a statement was provided; if so, if it is available for inspection; if the national monuments section has recommended that a licensed archaeologist be employed on the site while work is in progress; if the significant finds on an adjoining site in 1996 when an archaeologist was on site have been noted; and if she will make a statement on the significance of this area to the history of Mullingar. [2645/98]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

I understand the site for which planning permission exists involves a proposed residential development to the south of the river referred to by the Deputy and that no planning permission exists for development to the north of the river. The development for which planning permission exists was first brought to the attention of the national monuments and historic properties division of Dúchas, the heritage service, by the planning authority, Westmeath Councy Council, at the beginning of last year. It was recommended subsequently to the planning authority that, owing to the location of the site in an area of archaeological potential, there should be an archaeological assessment carried out.

An archaeological assessment, under licence, was carried out by the developers' archaeologist last April, involving the digging of extensive test trenches where site development works were to be carried out. Nothing of archaeological interest was uncovered and it was concluded that the proposed development has no archaeological implications.

Having consulted the planning authority, I am aware of only two further applications for (a) a variation to the original scheme involving doors and windows which has no archaeological significance and (b) a bridge which was submitted and referred to my Department last November. In relation to the latter, it was confirmed by the developers' archaeologist that the area for the proposed new bridge had already been included in the area of testing originally carried out by the developers' archaeologist. It was agreed, therefore, that further testing in this area was not necessary.

The site was assessed and tested in accordance with proper archaeological standards by a professional archaeologist and no evidence of archaeological remains on this site has been proven. Although the archaeologist's report was submitted to me in accordance with the terms of the licence, the report remains the property of the developers and access to it is a matter for them. I am satisfied, however, that there was no need to augment this site appraisal with archaeologists from my own Department and that there is no need for any further archaeological input while work is in progress.

My Department is aware of the significance of the nearby site referred to by the Deputy, where extensive skeletal material, dating from the medieval period, was uncovered in 1996, and of the fact that it is located in an historically important part of Mullingar. In recognition of this, my Department has requested on numerous occasions that archaeological conditions be inserted in planning permissions for developments in this area.

It is the policy of my Department that proposed developments in all sensitive sites should be subject to an archaeological assessment and I can assure the Deputy that my Department will be adhering rigidly to this in the case of any new development occurring in the zone of archaeological potential in Mullingar.

I should point out that all functions regarding heritage matters have been transferred from the Office of Public Works to my Department since 1996.