Press Release. National Monument Service,
Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government,
6th. July 2007.

Minister Gormley Publishes File on National Monument at Lismullin

Mr. John Gormley TD Minister for the Environment, Heritage & local Government has today (6th. July '07) published the papers relating to the determination of directions to the NRA regarding the national monument (enclosure) at Lismullin, Co. Meath on the approved route of the M3 motorway. He considers it to be in the public interest that the relevant papers be made publicly available, so that people can get a better understanding of the decision made before the Minister took office.

"I made a promise on my arrival to this office to publish the file. I intend to be fully open and transparent on this and other issues", said Minister Gormley.

The Minister reiterated that the protection of our national heritage is a priority for him in Government. "I intend to continue the strong and proud tradition of my party in this vital area of environmental protection", he said. "I will not hesitate to exercise my statutory powers to issue directions appropriate to the particular circumstances should any new site of national importance emerge", added Minister Gormley.

Minister Gormley also announced plans for a major review of archaeological practice and policy as it relates to his department. The Department will hold a seminar in the autumn in order to get the views of all stakeholders involved, with a view to beginning this process, and to draw up terms of reference for this review.

"My primary aim with this review is to make our policy towards protecting our archaeological heritage the best there can be and to draw from the experience and advice of experts both at home and abroad to achieve this".

In relation to the Lismullin site, the directions issued by his predecessor, Minister Roche require the National Roads Authority to fully excavate and record that part of the National Monument located within the land take for M3 approved road development. The excavation works and recording are to be carried out in advance of any road construction works in the vicinity of the National Monument.

The Minister has received unequivocal advice from the Attorney General that, without a change in material circumstances relating to the newly discovered monument, it is not open to him to review, or amend, the directions given by his predecessor in this case.

He said that Tara and similar controversies of recent years does raise the valid question as to whether the current measures we have to protect our archaeological and natural landscape are adequate.

"I recognise fully that we live in a dynamic and changing landscape and housing, commercial and infrastructure development is an important part of that dynamic. Yet we have a rich and amazing natural and archaeological heritage which we are duty-bound to protect. I agree with bodies such as the Heritage Council who have said that we do need enhanced measures. Therefore in the coming weeks I will begin a consultative process in order to bring forward a new National Landscape Strategy. This was a key environmental protection commitment in the Programme for Government. My department and I will be seeking the views of all the relevant stakeholders, including landowners, environmental groups, and State bodies like the Heritage Council".

Minister Gormley has also said he will consider using his powers under the Planning and Development Acts to request Meath County Council designate the area around Tara as a Landscape Conservation area. This measure would be additional to a series of other measures already in place. These include the requirement that all planning applications near the Hill of Tara must be forwarded to the Department of the Environment for comment.

The papers can be accessed through the links listed below;

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

ENDS

Note for Editors

The monument itself as it survives today consists of two outer circles and one inner circle of stakeholes (15 - 20 cm in diameter). These stakeholes provide evidence for a circular enclosure (80 m in diameter) with a smaller inner central enclosure (16 m in diameter). Two further rows of stake holes show evidence of an entrance and passage way from the outer enclosure to the inner enclosure. These archaeological features have been heavily truncated by ploughing in the past. The surviving features are shallow and fragile.

Planning for the M3 Clonee to North of Kells Motorway development started in 1999. The suitability of each of 10 possible routes was examined in detail, with the NRA and Meath County Council coming to the view that the current route was the most suitable when a range of factors, including that of archaeological protection, was taken into account. This view was tested in detail in the required Environmental Impact Statement for the Scheme and at a 28 day oral hearing held by an Bord Pleanala in 2002, following which the scheme was approved by the Bord in August 2003.

Under statutory procedures set out in the Roads Acts, the approval of motorway schemes is a matter for an Bord Pleanala. The statutory role of the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government in relation to a road development approved by an Bord Pleanála lies in the issuing of directions as to how archaeological works are to be carried out on the approved route. It goes without saying that the Minister will not hesitate to exercise his statutory powers to issue directions appropriate to the particular circumstances should any new site of national importance emerge.

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Release of documents relating to Lismullin. Statement CtST.