Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Road Network.

Liz O'Donnell

Ceist:

1308 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Transport if he was briefed by the National Monuments Service of Dúchas in relation to the Carrickmines Castle site and the current National Roads Authority and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council proposals for the south eastern motorway regarding the impact of the motorway on the castle site; the recommendations which these bodies put before him to mitigate the impact of their proposals on the said castle site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16945/02]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan):

With a view to finding an agreed way forward which would preserve extensive areas of the historic and archaeological site at Carrickmines, while allowing the south eastern motorway to proceed, I had discussions with the National Roads Authority, An Taisce, Dúchas, national monuments and architectural protection division, and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Following these discussions, and taking account of an NRA review of the south eastern motorway project and the implications for archaeological features discovered at Carrickmines, I approved a set of measures to preserve important core features of the site including the raising and tilting of the Glenamuck Road roundabout. The estimated cost of these works is €500,000.

During comprehensive discussions on the issue, a range of recommendations were made by the bodies concerned and these were taken into consideration in arriving at the measures which I approved. I am satisfied that the solution now arrived at achieves the primary objective of preserving extensive areas of the site at Carrickmines and also ensures that the motorway will be completed on schedule in 2004.

The direct costs associated with the excavations at the castle site are expected to total €6 million. During the two year period of excavation, as many as 200 archaeologists were at any one time involved in the work.