Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley has endorsed the Final Report of the Working Group on the future preservation and archaeological investigation of the Viking Age national monument at Woodstown, Co Waterford.

Minister Gormley praised the group for their "professionalism and hard work" in producing the Final Report.

He said: "I initiated the Department's review of archaeological policy and practice late last year on just such a basis and the Woodstown report reinforces the importance of this principle to my mind.

"The report is another important stepping stone in the advancement of the south eastern region in built heritage terms and one on which I am confident will successfully be taken forward again on a co-operative basis. I am making the report publicly available on the Department's new dedicated archaeological website: www.archaeology.ie."

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The Working Group was established by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in 2005 following the discovery of the Woodstown site during routine archaeological investigations ahead of the construction of the N25 Waterford City-Bypass in 2003. The group includes the Director of the National Museum, Dr Pat Wallace, as well as representatives from Waterford City and County Councils, the Heritage Council, the National Roads Authority and the Department’s Chief Archaeologist, Brian Duffy.

The Minister agreed with the Working Group's recommendation that the site, presently in private ownership, should be placed on the statutory Record of Historic Monuments affording it protection under the National Monuments Acts.

Any works proposed at the site would thus require two months prior written notice being made to the Minister. Discussions will be held with the site's owner to ensure its ongoing protection but as the site is not considered to be under imminent threat the making of a preservation order is not considered necessary at this time by the Minister.

(JM)