Archaeological Sites.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2004

Thursday, 9 December 2004

Questions (3)

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

3 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in regard to the proposed M3 motorway through the Tara-Skryne area, he has declared that he is seeking archaeological advice before making an informed decision on the matter; if he will seek the advice of independent experts who have an intimate knowledge of the archaeology and history of this area; and if he grants permission for this development through the Tara landscape, if he will, in consideration of the exceptional sensitivity of this landscape, insist that an independent archaeological authority oversees this work to ensure standards of best archaeological practice shall be observed at all times. [32931/04]

Oral answers (17 contributions)

Mr. Roche

An Bord Pleanála, which has an independent statutory mandate, is responsible under the Roads Act 1993 for the approval of motorway schemes following an assessment of the environmental impact of the proposal. In the case of the M3 motorway, the process involved a detailed environmental impact assessment, in which archaeological considerations and other factors were extensively addressed, and a public oral hearing. Following this process, the motorway scheme, including the route of the proposed M3, was approved by An Bord Pleanála in August 2003. It is worth reminding ourselves of those facts, which are often overlooked in the debate. Under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004, once a motorway scheme has been approved, any associated archaeological works, for example, excavations, are to be carried out in accordance with the directions that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government may issue following consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. That procedure is designed to ensure appropriate standards apply to the carrying out of archaeological work in connection with approved road developments.

In the case of the M3 motorway, an application for the carrying out of a programme of archaeological works and mitigation measures regarding a portion of the route has been made by the roads authority to my Department and it is currently being considered. In determining the matter, I will receive expert advice from the archaeological staff in my Department. In accordance with the Act, I will also consult the director of the National Museum of Ireland before directions are issued.

My Department has responsibility for the regulation of archaeological works and the maintenance of standards. All works carried out after directions given under the 2004 Act will be monitored by my Department to ensure they are carried out to the proper standards. Given that arrangement, I do not consider it necessary or desirable to establish a separate archaeological authority to oversee such works. Determination on the matters referred to above will be made as soon as possible.

Mr. Cuffe

In approximately one month, the Minister will have to decide whether a motorway will slice through the archaeologically rich landscape of the Tara Skryne valley. Will the Minister will seek independent archaeological advice on the issue? I suggest to him that the archaeologists and academics attached to the discovery programme set up by the former Taoiseach Charlie Haughey over ten years ago is the most appropriate group, given the vast amount of knowledge they have accumulated regarding the rich archaeology of that part of Meath. Will the Minister consult the discovery programme, given its wealth of knowledge?

Perhaps I might point out to the Minister that there was an environmental impact statement for the route, which covered ten separate issues. However, the National Roads Authority went away and examined 18 different issues in arriving at the route that it selected. Among those 18 issues were traffic, the impact on road users and the impact on minor roads. In other words, there was a bias towards roads in those issues. Since this road may well be funded by a public private partnership, it is the most economic option to look for the quickest route between Navan and Dublin. Unfortunately, Tara lies directly on the desired line between those two points. Was Tara condemned from the outset simply by being close to the line between Navan and Dublin? I reiterate that the Minister must seek independent advice, and not simply from his own Department, since the archaeologists in Dúchas are now very much under his wing.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Please come to a question.

Mr. Cuffe

I hope, as a gesture of goodwill, the Minister will seek the advice of those who have been examining Tara in detail for over ten years.

Mr. Roche

I am aware of the concerns of the Deputy and others. I also thank the Deputy for conducting the debate in a calmer fashion than some. The NRA, in developing road proposals, must take account of archaeology as well as other relevant factors, such as the engineering impact on homes, severance of farms, the natural environment, cost and so forth. I am not saying that Deputy Cuffe does not know this, but that seems to have been true of many people involved in the debate. The route that has been chosen is significantly further from the Hill of Tara than the existing N3 national primary road.

Following the approval by An Bord Pleanála, archaeological test trenches were sunk along the route of the proposed motorway. I do not believe the Deputy meant to imply the archaeologists attached to my Department would modify their views accordingly. They will give an objective view on the issue, which I will consider. I too will examine it objectively. Some 38 sites have been identified along the 15 km route. That number is not at all out of line with other schemes. There are more than 120,000 known monuments and places of record on the island, and the development of a scheme the size of the M3 will inevitably result in discoveries.

I am conscious of the significance of this, and Deputy Cuffe is correct that the issue is not so much one of the archaeology in the ground but the general landscape. If one considers the legislation, one sees that my role in this is narrow, focusing on the archaeology of the scheme and issues relating to the mitigation of any works carried out. The route has already been decided. It has been through the planning process, and it is very much outside the power of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to give directions on that. However, it is within my power to examine the archaeology, though I must be careful because I am operating in a quasi-judicial way, as the Deputy knows. I intend doing that in this and another case.

Mr. Cuffe

Does the Minister accept there is a view in the Department and among the archaeologists employed by the National Roads Authority that backs up the NRA in its decisions? I am worried that there is also such a view in Fianna Fáil. One might almost term it a Fianna Fáil-NRA view that believes in putting a road on the shortest route between two points rather than considering the other options. There is concern at the lack of geophysical imaging in the NRA report. Is the Minister concerned at that? The lack of such imaging is a little like going to a hospital and having a doctor poke one in the stomach instead of getting an X-ray.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

There is a time limit on this question. We must proceed with the next question.

Mr. Cuffe

Will the Minister consider progressing the reinstatement of the Navan rail link? That was recommended ten years ago in the final report of the Dublin transportation initiative.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We must move to the next question. We have gone far over time on this. I ask the Minister to deal with the next question.

Mr. Cuffe

Will the Minister examine those other issues?

Mr. Roche

Much of the latter part of the contribution was outside my remit and that of the question. I have made the point that good archaeologists are involved in this. There is a relatively limited role for me, but I will play it to the best of my ability.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Question No. 5.

Mr. Roche

Is it not Question No. 4?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Yes.

Mr. Roche

I noticed that Deputy O'Dowd turned rather pale there.

Mr. O’Dowd

I do not think so at all. I am not wearing make-up like the Minister.

Mr. Roche

There was no sleight of hand.