Brú na Bóinne is an archaeological landscape of world importance, as recognised by its UNESCO World Heritage Status which it shares, for example, with such famous sites as the Taj Mahal and Machu Pichu. The archaeological landscape of Brú na Boinne covers some 3,300 hectares and contains many outstanding archaeological features, notably its megalithic art, the large and varied grouping of monuments and evidence of continuous settlement and activity in the area for some 7,000 years. The UNESCO listing obliges the State to protect the area to the highest international standards. The protection afforded includes restrictions on developments which would affect the views to and from the site, given the importance of this site to the Irish people as a whole, and indeed, its world wide significance.
The site is visited annually by over 220,000 people. My Department has responsibility for policy issues while the day to day management of the site is the responsibility of the Office of Public Works.
In recognition of the importance of the site, a Management Plan was drawn up by a multi-disciplinary team of archaeologists, conservation architects, administrators and guide service and was put out to public consultation. The Plan provides information on various aspects of the management policy of Brú na Boinne including its conservation and presentation, visitor management, legislative protections which it enjoys and development considerations necessary to protect the site. The Public were consulted in the drafting of the Plan which was published in late 2002. It will be reviewed in the current year.
Following the publication of the Management Plan, a Consultative Committee was established in accordance with Action 29 of the Plan. It represents local interests as well as Meath County Council, local tourism, my Department and the OPW and is chaired by a local interest representative. This committee's main brief is to assist the implementation of the Plan. I understand that officials of either my Department or OPW, or both, attended most of the meetings called and notified to them by the Chairperson/Secretary of the committee.
Senior officials of my Department and OPW meet frequently on a range of issues where there is cross Departmental responsibility. In keeping with this practice, a number of meetings were held to monitor and review progress in relation to the various actions outlined in the Brú na Boinne Management Plan with a view to progressing as many of these actions as possible during its lifetime. I understand that considerable progress has been made with regard to implementing the actions outlined. As part of the proposed review referred to above, all actions contained in the Plan will be examined.
The Meath County Development Plan was circulated to my Department in the normal way last year. In addition to the usual examination of such plans, the sections referring to the protection to be afforded the Brú na Boinne site were reviewed in my Department against the objectives of the Management Plan. On foot of this review, some additional protections, consistent with those set out in the Management Plan, were recommended. The Department suggested that there was a case for including a policy in the Plan generally restricting new development within the core area of Brú an Boinne to modest works such as small-scale extensions to existing domestic dwellings and for permitting only small scale development in the buffer zone, with appropriate planning. In the event that the Council wishes to retain Heritage Policy 65 (as set out in the draft Development Plan), the Department considered that it should be strengthened by the inclusion of certain criteria against which to assess development proposals such as that the proposed development should not affect existing views to and from National Monuments and the applicant would be involved locally in full time agriculture and not own land outside the World Heritage Site. My Department's response to the draft Development Plan did not seek to prohibit all development within the core area and buffer zone. The adoption of a Development Plan is a matter for the local elected representatives.
The Deputy will be aware that planning permission has been granted for many once off houses in this area, in accordance with the policy that they do not affect the view and amenity which should be enjoyed by all national and international visitors to this very important site.
The question of signage is a matter for the local authority. However, in accordance with Action 14 of the Plan, discussions took place involving officials of my Department, the OPW, Meath County Council, local tourist interests and representatives of the Consultative Committee to determine if a revised signage programme could be agreed. My Department wrote to Meath County Council in June 2006 regarding the signage issue and also offered assistance towards the cost of this.
Issues relating to the Battle of the Boyne site are a matter for the Office of Public Works, who manage the site on a day to day basis.
