Mr. Ian Doyle:

The Deputy's choice of Clondalkin is very interesting. I remember being in Clondalkin approximately 20 years ago. When I returned in recent times I was quite struck by the change. The character of being a place of historic significance was far more legible. In the heritage world we refer to what the Deputy spoke about as place making and the power of heritage to do this. The round tower, some imagination and partnership has done this. I can think of a number of projects throughout the country that have done this. It is the transformative power of heritage to give a place a stronger meaning.

The Deputy asked how the proposed legislation helps to support this and mentioned housing in particular. There is a line in the 1930 Act about archaeological licensing. This was written at a time when a professor in a university might go and excavate at Lough Gur for six weeks over the course of the summer. We now have projects, such as those mentioned by the Deputy or complex housing projects, that have archaeological strategies to enable excavation and to enable leaving some finds in situto preserve them for future generations. The provisions outlined in the general scheme would regulate and introduce better quality management procedures. It will help in the delivery of this. It should also help in terms of the ongoing professionalisation of the archaeological heritage sector. It will make a strong contribution in this regard.