Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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232. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will order the preservation of the recently discovered souterrain at lands in Corballis, Donabate, as set out in section 8 (1) of the National Monuments Act 1930, especially given the writing on the walls within the souterrain, which may be ogham or futhark and is of historic importance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55948/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I welcome the Deputy’s interest in the protection of our archaeological heritage. I can assure him that my Department is aware of the important discovery he refers to and an officer of my Department has inspected it. I understand that the site has now been covered over and fenced off under professional archaeological supervision, with this having been done by the owners or person proposing to develop the lands.  I am advised that a proposal for development of the lands is before An Bord Pleanála. While I am generally precluded from intervening in cases before An Bord Pleanála, for the purposes of answering this question regarding exercise of powers under the National Monuments Acts I would note that I understand the proposal for development would provide for the preservation in-situ of the archaeological enclosure feature within which the souterrain is situated.

Regarding the specific question asked as to whether I will exercise powers under section 8(1) of the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended), I would note that the making of a Preservation Order under that provision requires me, as Minister, to not only be of the opinion that the monument in question is a national monument within the meaning of the National Monuments Acts, but also that it must appear to me that the monument is in danger of being or is actually being destroyed, injured or removed, or is falling into decay through neglect.

In the circumstances as known to me, which includes the understanding that the in-situ preservation of the souterrain is provided for in the development proposal, I do not consider that the making of a Preservation Order would be justified in this case.