Vol. 558 No. 3
178 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason no representative of Dúchas has attended the M3 motorway inquiry when the proposed road passes between the Hills of Tara and Skreen. [23909/02]
179 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason no representative of Dúchas has attended the M3 motorway inquiry when the road will have a direct effect on a proposed special area of conservation. [23910/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.
Meath County Council which is directly responsible for the M3 project, under NRA supervision, consulted extensively with my Department's heritage division at the route selection stage of this project. The environmental impact statement for the proposed M3 motorway was formally provided to my Department on 4 March 2002 and comments were forwarded to An Bord Pleanála on 22 April 2002.
With regard to nature conservation, my Department was satisfied that the route proposed would not have a significant adverse impact on any designated area. The proposed route will cross sections of the Boyne and Blackwater Rivers which are under consideration for designation to protect salmon and its habitat. My Department, recommended therefore that the construction work should be carried out in consultation with the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, and also recommended mitigation measures to minimise any environmental impacts on habitats and species.
With regard to archaeology, my Department was satisfied that the route chosen was the most appropriate, in the context of the known rich archaeological heritage of this part of the country. My Department enclosed the archaeological mitigation measures proposed in the EIS, as well as recommending a number of additional measures, to include pre-development archaeological testing and assessment at various points along the proposed route.
