Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps being taken to ensure protection of archaeological heritage at both Lismullen and Rath Lugh; if he has ensured that in accordance with his powers under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2004, that any necessary consents to work in the vicinity have been applied for; if, in this regard, there has been monitoring of Lismullen and Rath Lugh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8542/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I placed a temporary Preservation Order on the national monument at Rath Lugh, on 28th September 2007, under Section 4 of the National Monuments Act 1954 (as amended).

To assess the stability of the esker on which the monument at Rath Lugh is located I commissioned a report from a firm of consultants with relevant expertise in this matter. The report I have received recommends that a number of precautionary measures be put in place to ensure that the esker is not undermined during the nearby road construction works or in the longer term. My Department is working with the NRA to ensure the ongoing protection of the national monument including the implementation of the measures outlined in the consultant's report.

My Department has also been in contact with Coillte, the registered owner of the lands on which the national monument at Rath Lugh is located, to agree on how the monument can best be protected both now and in the longer term. Coillte has assured us of its fullest co-operation to ensure protection is afforded to the national monument and of its continued engagement with the Department in this matter.

All archaeological works in relation to that part of the national monument at Lismullen within the landtake for the M3 motorway have been completed in line with the statutory directions issued in this matter in June 2007. Post excavation analysis of all of the archaeological evidence recovered from the site has commenced and will continue over the course of the next 12 months. In accordance with its terms of reference the Lismullen Advisory Committee has provided, and will continue to provide, advice to the NRA and its consultants in relation to the analysis and reporting on the archaeological finds at Lismullin.

In order to ensure the protection of that part of the national monument which lies outside the land-take for the M3 motorway, I have entered it on the Register of Historic Monuments.

In relation to ongoing archaeological monitoring, all topsoil stripping and ground reduction works necessitated by the construction of the M3 are monitored by the archaeological consultants employed by the construction company. Such archaeological monitoring was provided for in the Ministerial Directions for the M3 issued in 2005, and the method statement for the monitoring was approved by my Department in April 2007 prior to the commencement of the main construction contract.