Building our future while saving our past
Meath has attracted settlement for thousands of years because of its fertile lands, and each generation has changed the landscape hiding many sites which only archaeological investigation today can locate.
Mr Newman dismisses the planned M3 as an "ill-conceived development" while he acknowledges that there are huge traffic problems along the existing N3. It can hardly be "ill-conceived" to address this problem on behalf of the population while having full regard to all planning and environmental statutory obligations.
Again it is suggested that we ignored our advisers, and again I must point out that this is simply not the case. The decision to move the road further from the Hill of Tara than the existing N3 should be welcomed.
In relation to the predicted costs, Mr Newman has seemingly misunderstood some media reports the cost of all archaeological work on the whole 60km M3 Clonee-north of Kells road scheme is currently estimated to be between 20 million-30m maximum.
This figure includes the extensive test excavations, further geophysical survey and other archaeological investigations, forthcoming excavations, post-excavation research and full publication of the results on the whole scheme, not just the Dunshaughlin-Navan section.
So what will this money deliver? It will provide tangible benefits to the country while bringing to light knowledge and artefacts that might otherwise have remained forgotten. This is a responsible and balanced approach to the complex undertaking of building our future while protecting our past.
Mary Deevy
Project Archaeologist
National Roads Design Office
Meath County Council
Navan
Co Meath
