Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 December 2018
230. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she is taking in conjunction with Westmeath County Council to designate part of the Mayne high bog as a protected area due to its historical and archaeological significance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52608/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with general practice for peat extraction, a rolling series of survey work, investigation and excavations have been carried out at Mayne Bog over a number of years. In 2006, with the co-operation of the landowners, my Department commissioned a full survey of the then known togher (constructed of planks) followed by the excavation of a single cutting across the togher. During the course of this excavation, a second togher (of brushwood construction) was identified slightly to the north of the plank togher and running parallel to it. This was also fully surveyed and recorded.
In 2013, the landowners commissioned an environmental impact statement in connection with a peat extraction licence application to the Environmental Protection Agency. As part of the assessment process, the peatlands were fully examined by a qualified archaeological consultant and, aside from the plank togher, no further finds or features of archaeological significance were identified at that time.
In 2014, at my Department’s request, another inspection was commissioned by the landowners to assess the status of both toghers. During 2015, and also at the request of my Department, the landowners commissioned a series of excavations which were carried out at three separate locations on both toghers.
In 2016, with the permission of the landowners, my Department commissioned an Induced Polarisation Survey (an advanced geophysical technique) to examine an area of high bog to the east of the open industrial bog at Mayne. This methodology was previously used successfully at Edercloon, County Longford, to identify wooden structures outside the road corridor where other parts of the structures were under excavation by the National Roads Authority. Due to the heavily waterlogged nature of the high bog at Mayne, the geophysical survey was inconclusive in tracking the togher into the higher peatlands. During 2017, my Department commissioned a further survey using metal probes inserted through the peat, as developed and employed successfully in research at Céide Fields in North Mayo. The survey successfully identified that the togher continues to the east from the edge of the high bog for a minimum distance of 200 metres at depths from the surface varying from 1 to 2.4 metres.
In the course of 2018 my Department licensed a further assessment by the landowners of the archaeological potential of the area of the bog that is subject to peat extraction. The fieldwork component of this project has been completed and under the conditions of the licence, the archaeologist is obliged to submit a report to the Department's National Monuments Service which will be shared with the local authority.
My Department also hopes to commission a further survey in 2019 of the area of Mayne Bog which has not been subject to peat extraction, with a view to further clarifying the location and state of preservation of the area of trackway in that part of the bog. The Department is and will continue to engage with all stakeholders, including the local authority and the landowners, to progress the preservation of the togher in the high bog.
I am satisfied that the measures being taken with regard to the protection of the toghers uncovered at Mayne represent the best approach to securing an optimal outcome. Unlike cases involving delivery of key infrastructure which are supported by the Codes of Practice agreed and in place between my Department and the various State utility providers, archeological discoveries arising from private development have to be dealt with on a case by case basis. In such instances the practice is to seek the co-operation of private landowners with the protection and recording of monuments in line, for example, with my Department’s engagement with farmers under Glas, the current agri-environmental scheme. Such engagement is undertaken in a collaborative and transparent manner and I am satisfied that it is proving to be the best mechanism for guaranteeing the survival of these monuments into the future.
