Mr. Rónán Swan:

I will give an example of the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge project. This is appropriate because the existing N5 goes through the complex at Rathcroghan. The road was moved north of that scheme and is off the plateau there. We did a lot of advanced archaeological work in terms of archaeological geophysical surveying to identify sites along the scheme. We did either assessment or top work and so on. We went to the board with comprehensive detail of the number of archaeological finds that we knew about.

On the approval of the scheme, as it is under the Act of 2004, we needed to seek ministerial direction. Ministerial directions are sought from the Minister to allow for additional archaeological works to take place post-approval. That included an additional archaeology geophysical survey, test trenching and test excavation along the entire length of the scheme to identify what had not come to light previously. In addition to that, we did test excavations on a number of sites along the route previously and, subsequently, directions for registration numbers were included. Those were excavated as part of the scheme. There was a huge body of work in this one scheme. Some 101 sites came from that body of work along that scheme. Along this new corridor, post the environmental impact assessment, we have the post planning-assigned part of construction. We had a wide body of sites to come across. One can imagine the situation if there was an advisory council that had to deal with 100 sites.

At the moment, we have the ministerial directions coming in and we do not have registration numbers. Ministerial directions provide the scope for all the works while going along. We do similar things for our public transport projects in regard to developing our archaeological culture strategies. There is a significant body of work that goes into this. For each individual element of the works, one has to apply for a registration number, section 26 licence. On one level, that is the role of the National Monuments Service on behalf of the Minister. We would be creating another national monuments service in addition to the National Monuments Service and the work it carries out. I am only focusing on my role in road schemes, etc., but there are also water schemes, infrastructure developments, utilities, as well as a whole range of housing schemes. There is a whole other body of work. We would be duplicating and creating another set of works in that regard, and that could be problematic.