A compromise plan to preserve over 50 per cent of the Carrickmines Castle archaeological site in south Dublin and allow for the construction of a section of the South Eastern motorway was unveiled by the Minister for Transport Mr Seamus Brennan today.
The plan will retain the medieval structure of the castle in full as well as two other adjacent defensive structures while a third will be relocated.
The main component of the plan will see the proposed Glenamuck roundabout raised and tilted so the core features of the site can be preserved in situ and viewed by the public when construction of the motorway is complete.
The medieval garrison fort site has been compared in importance to Wood Quay and has already unearthed over 40,000 significant artefacts.
Mr Brennan said: "I am satisfied that the solution now arrived at achieves the primary objective of preserving extensive areas of the site and also ensures the motorway will be completed on schedule in 2004."
He said: "While it is not possible to preserve the entire site I am confident that the arrangement now reached guarantees that the main features are saved as an enduring legacy for this and the future generations to appreciate and learn from."
However, a number of senior academics in UCD and Trinity College were said to be aghast that so much of the site was to be lost.
One in particular was said to be considering the possibility of legal action in the High Court or in Europe.
The plan is the culmination of intense negotiations between the Ministry of Transport, the National Roads Authority, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Dúchas, the Heritage Service and An Taisce.
The Minister said the plan balanced a commitment to preserve an important historical site and to alleviate traffic congestion to and from the South East.
The plan will also examine the potential for the location of an archaeological heritage park at the site. An 18th century farmhouse on the site is also to retained in view of its potential suitability for use as an interpretative centre.
The estimated costs of the changes to the original plan is €500,000. The total cost of archaeological investigations associated with the South Eastern Motorway will be in the region of €10 million - the direct costs associated with the excavations of the Castle site are expected to total €6 million.
