John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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170. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the reported destruction of a Bronze Age Bog Road at Mayne Bog, County Westmeath; the action that has been taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32360/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department, through the relevant development control frameworks and in co-operation with the landowner, is pursuing an archaeological response in this case that is based on preservation in-situ of those parts of the trackway where it is a realistic option and preservation by record where it is no longer viable. Most recently in that context, my Department submitted a set of archaeological observations, with three specific recommendations in relation to the trackway, to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in connection with an Integrated Pollution Control licence application to the Agency earlier this year for peat extraction at Mayne Bog. The form and extent of the archaeological excavation sought by my Department was directly comparable to the archaeological mitigation strategies adopted in relation to similar monuments on Bord na Móna peatlands.

The archaeological investigations recommended by my Department to the EPA have since been carried out by the landowner under a separate licence granted by me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, under section 26 of the National Monuments Act 1930. The works were inspected and verified at the time by my Department’s National Monuments Service.

A report on the excavations has since been received and is being examined in my Department, which will liaise with the landowner in relation to any further archaeological work on the trackway that is determined from the report as being necessary and appropriate.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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171. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is aware of the nationally important issue of Knockhouse Tri Vallate Ring Fort which is one of only two tri vallates in County Waterford and the first to be excavated here, where over 50% of this site has been removed for the construction of the west pharma plant which is currently under way; her views that as part of the company's corporate social responsibility, the area should be conserved, since the fort does not interfere with the factory’s location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32373/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Although the monument site referred to is listed in the 1995 Record of Monuments and Places established under the National Monuments Acts, it would be important to note that there were no surviving archaeological features above ground even at that time. The site was, until recently, in the ownership of the local authority. In line with its statutory obligations under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, and under section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, the local authority consulted my Department during 2013 and 2014 regarding the archaeological implications of proposed works it was considering in the context of potential future development of the site.

In response, my Department advised the authority of its view that the appropriate course would be to secure the preservation of any archaeological remains, by record, through an appropriate level of archaeological excavation and recording. A programme of archaeological excavation, licensed by my Department under section 26 of the National Monuments Act 1930, was subsequently carried out. The report on the excavation works will be considered by my Department, on receipt and will inform any future deliberations in relation to this matter, including any potential future referral to my Department relating to development impacting directly on the monument site.