Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley. I thank Senator Cannon for raising this issue.

A section of the medieval town wall, forming a part of the Loro Gate to the town of Athenry, was discovered during archaeological monitoring of development works in the immediate area. The lower courses and foundation of the wall are located under the roadway at a junction adjacent to the entrance of a new housing development. The planning permission for the housing development requires the developer to construct a new roundabout at the junction.

The town defences of Athenry are a national monument within the meaning of the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004 and part of the town wall is already protected by a preservation order. The newly discovered section of the wall is under the public road, is in the ownership of Galway County Council, and the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is required under section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930 for any works affecting it. Although public safety and traffic management are important considerations, the Loro Gate is an important part of the local historical record in Athenry. Every possible effort must always be made to preserve and protect our archaeological heritage. In this case, that means fully exploring and, if feasible, adapting the configuration of the roundabout to reduce its impact as far as possible so as to allow the monument to be preserved to best effect for future generations.

Following discovery of the remains of the wall, development work ceased and an application for ministerial consent was submitted on behalf of the developer for the preservation in situ of the wall under the proposed roundabout. Submissions were received from other local interests who favoured the roundabout being redesigned to facilitate the wall section being preserved in such a way that it could be put on public display. As part of its examination of the consent application and the suggested alternative approaches, Galway County Council was informed that any recommendation to the Minister to grant consent for the roundabout as proposed would have to be supported by clear evidence that all relevant factors had been taken into consideration in reaching a balanced and reasonable conclusion. A report subsequently produced by the council with the assistance of the National Roads Authority has examined a number of possible options for dealing with traffic at the junction. The Department of Transport has also provided observations on the traffic issue, as has the National Museum of Ireland in regard to the developer's proposal to preserve the monument in situ under the roundabout.

The various reports and observations are being carefully examined in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, taking due account of the archaeological, historical and local significance of the Loro Gate. I have listened carefully to what the Senator has said and I assure him that it is Minister's intention to have the matter finalised as speedily as possible. All relevant factors are being considered with a view to the best solution being achieved.