A move to have the site of a proposed new prison in north Dublin designated as a conservation area will be considered by Fingal county councillors next month.
Designation of the archaeological worth of the site at Thornton, near Rolestown, could prevent the State building a prison there, according to local Labour councillor Tom Kelleher.
Yesterday's meeting of the council heard that over 400 submissions have been received calling for the site to be designated as an architectural conservation area (ACA) in the next development plan for the Fingal area. County manager John Tierney ruled out any discussion of the matter, saying he didn't want to pre-empt a report on the draft plan to be presented to the next meeting of the council.
Mr Kelleher said campaigners opposed to the prison wanted to make sure the motion to council calling for the ACA designation was properly drafted before it is presented, probably next month.
Local people claim the area of the proposed site is rich in archaeological remains, including the site of a 12th century castle.
"Research has shown the archaeological richness is greater than anyone anticipated. We're talking about a medieval village, a miniature town down there," said Mr Kelleher.
He described the process by which the Department of Justice paid €29.9 million to a local farmer for the land as "an absolute travesty" and "a rushed job".
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