Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. We have to ensure that our national monuments are protected and preserved. As the Deputy knows, I am the owner or guardian of almost 1,000 national monuments ranging from prehistoric burial monuments to medieval fortifications and religious sites. Under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, my Department has established and maintains the record of monuments and places. This affords legal protection to over 120,000 recorded archaeological sites and monuments in the State. Anyone proposing works to a monument that is included in the record of monuments and places must give my Department two months' prior notice before works can start. There are a number of mechanisms under the National Monuments Acts aimed at protecting Ireland's archaeological sites and monuments. They include any works to national monuments either managed by the OPW or those in the care of a local authority which require my consent under section 14. Two months' notice of any works to a monument which is included in the record of monuments and places must be given to my Department. Any excavation at an archaeological site can only take place under licence from my Department. For the Deputy's information, in 2018 there were 956 excavation licences issued.

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