Archaeological Sites.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2004

Wednesday, 13 October 2004

Questions (184, 185, 186)

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

185 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the estimate for the amount of archaeological sites found only refers to results based on written documentation and the rudimentary trench testing, and does not take into account the wealth of data available from more sophisticated remote sensing techniques in regard to the proposed M3 motorway that passes through the Tara Skryne area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24779/04]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

186 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the estimate of €30 million for archaeological investigation only covers 38 of the sites discovered to date in regard to the proposed M3 motorway that passes through the Tara Skryne area; if he will make provision for costs arising from the future discovery of other sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24780/04]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

187 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the estimate of €30 million for archaeological investigation only covers 15 km out of the total 60 km route in regard to the proposed M3 motorway that passes through the Tara Skryne area; the basis for arriving at this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24781/04]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 to 187, inclusive, together.

A variety of techniques have been employed in response to the archaeological requirements of the M3 motorway scheme. An environmental impact statement was prepared by Meath County Council and considered by An Bord Pleanála as part of the approval process for the scheme. The EIS included an archaeological assessment of the route. The assessment was based on a desk-top paper survey, examination of aerial photographs, field inspections and geophysical surveys of the route.

Following approval of the scheme by An Bord Pleanála, archaeological test trenching was carried out along the route of the proposed motorway, as proposed in the EIS and under licence from my Department. The combination of this research and investigation has led to the discovery of previously unrecorded archaeological sites. Costs in respect of the road scheme are a matter for the developers, in this case Meath County Council and the National Roads Authority.