James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the proposed N4 route from Mullingar to Longford will impact adversely on some of the county's most scenic and environmentally significant countryside and on heritage sites including the Black Pig's Dyke which runs from Lough Derravarragh to Lough Owel, a cist grave in Fulmort and the Anglo Norman Moat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46329/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Selection of routes for national roads is a matter for the relevant road authority (in this case Westmeath County Council), subject to approval by An Bord Pleanála under the Roads Act 1993. Completion of an environmental impact statement (including in relation to any impacts on cultural heritage) is required under the related application process. Consultation with the National Monuments Service of my Department in relation to any impacts on archaeology will take place in the process of the preparation of an environmental impact statement in this case, and my Department, in the exercise of its functions as a prescribed body, will make comments as appropriate to an Bord Pleanála on any application for approval for the proposed scheme. If such a development is approved by an Bord Pleanála, the road authority will then be required to seek directions from me under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 for all archaeological aspects of works related to the road development.

It is understood that a route has not yet been selected in this case.