Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the monitoring that has taken place of works by the National Roads Authority in the vicinity of Rath Lugh to ensure this national monument is preserved and the preservation order on the monument is adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15639/08]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has considered establishing a liaison committee made up of stakeholders including officials from his Department and other relevant Departments, representatives of Coillte, the National Museum and the National Monuments Service to monitor the implementation of the preservation order at Rath Lugh and ensure a basis of communication to all interested parties regarding the steps that are being taken to ensure the preservation of Rath Lugh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15640/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together.

On 7 March 2008, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended), I placed a preservation order on the national monument known as Rath Lugh in the townland of Lismullin, Co. Meath. The monument had previously been the subject of a temporary preservation order, which was due to expire in late March 2008. The area of the monument and its buffer zone covered by the preservation order is adjacent to, but does not encroach into, the lands made available by the National Roads Authority (NRA) to the company responsible for constructing the M3 motorway. The area of the monument is delineated by reference to National Grid co-ordinates in an Ordnance Survey map attached to the order. A copy of the order has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

To assess the stability of the esker on which the monument at Rath Lugh is located I commissioned a report, which is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie, from a firm of consultants with relevant expertise in this matter. The report I received recommended 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.

The NRA proposes to install a retaining wall system to secure the stability of the slope of the esker on which the national monument is located during the construction works and in the longer term when the motorway is in operation. The independent consultants I commissioned have reviewed the conceptual design for the retaining wall and have confirmed that the proposal is an appropriate solution. A copy of their report in this regard is also available on my Department's website. The consultants have listed a number of items that should be taken into account in considering the detailed design of the retaining wall. The NRA has agreed and a detailed design, which is currently being prepared, will be submitted to my Department prior to any work taking place.

I have arranged for weekly inspections to be carried out by my Department to monitor and assess the condition of the national monument at Rath Lugh. Furthermore, my Department is in regular contact with Coillte regarding the protection of the monument and has received Coillte's full co-operation in the matter. My Department and the National Museum of Ireland have also been in contact in the matter on a number of occasions. I am satisfied that appropriate arrangements are in place to monitor the effectiveness of the preservation order.