asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money provided to extend navigation on the River Suck as far as Ballinasloe, County Galway; and the timetable involved in this work.
Written Answers. - River Suck Navigation and Excavation.
98.
Preliminary work on the extension of navigation on the Suck commenced last summer. This involved archaeological excavations, followed by dredging work at Creggaun and Coreen fords. Expenditure to date has been of the order of £19,000. Financial allocations for the later stages of the project have not yet been settled. It is not possible therefore to give a precise timetable for the completion of the project, but I am hopeful that it may be possible to restore navigation to Ballinasloe within the next four years or so.
99.
asked the Minister for Finance the results of excavation on the River Suck particularly near Coreen and Creggaun fords, County Galway; if further excavation will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is proposed to extend the Shannon navigation to Ballinasloe. Initially several shoals in the River Suck had to be removed. Prior to their removal an archaeological excavation was undertaken at Coreen and Creggaun fords.
The archaeological excavation resulted in the finding of an iron spearhead, a late Bronze Age sword, an arrowhead, a Viking and a Medieval axehead, an Early Christian plough share, a Medieval halberd, a Napoleonic bayonet, two 1760 coins, two Medieval knives and two musket balls.
In addition a number of animal bones were found and await further examination.
These finds, together with those resulting from earlier excavations indicate that the area of the Suck at Coreen Ford is of considerable archaeological importance.
The need for archaeological excavation elsewhere on the river will be carefully considered before any further dredging work is undertaken.