John Perry
Ceist:119 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will make a statement with particular reference to the man made built and cultural heritage aspects of a submission (details supplied). [28452/01]
Written Answers. - Arts Submission.
Under the Local Government (Planning and Development Regulations), a planning authority notifies my Department where it appears that there will be impacts on the archaeological heritage. This enables my Department to make comments or recommendations to the planning authority which are aimed at avoiding or mitigating any adverse impacts. In this particular case, my officials made a submission to the planning authority earlier this year. In that submission, they pointed out that it envisaged an extensive and potentially intrusive development that would have an impact on any archaeological remains that may exist close to specific locations along the route. Moreover, there was need to take account of the effect on a local ritual landscape. It was the view of my officials that sufficient attention had not been given to this aspect in the EIS, and it was recommended that the developer undertake further archaeological assessment of the route by a suitably qualified archaeologist to address the issue of visual impact, and to recommend possible screening or other remedial measures where possible.
In the event, a revised methodology and amended EIS was presented to my officials by the EIS consultant. This was broadly in line with the recommendations contained in my Department's submission. Planning permission has since been granted and, given that the concerns of my Department have been addressed both through the updated proposals and the conditions attaching to the planning permission, my Department does not propose to take any further action. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that concerns that may exist about protection of the wider visual amenity fall to be adjudicated upon by the planning authority through the planning process. I would add, though, that reference in the accompanying documentation to landscapes in the Heritage Act, 1995, applies only to the role of the Heritage Council in proposing policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of the former. As the Deputy will be aware, the planning process remains the appropriate forum for assessing impacts in regard to landscapes.
Reference is also made by the Deputy in the accompanying documentation to the Valletta Convention. As a signatory to this convention, Ireland has stated its intention to comply with the convention and its agreed articles. It does so by ensuring that the necessary legislation and policies are in place to protect the archaeological heritage – principally through the National Monuments Acts, 1930-1994, and to a lesser degree, through the Planning and Development Acts. I am satisfied that as far as the proposal in question is concerned, my Department has adhered to its obligations under the Valletta Convention.