Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if has in mind a policy to carry out excavations at historical monuments or sites with a view to making information available with the objective of utilisation for educational, heritage and tourism purposes as opposed to excavation in conjunction with motorways, bridges or other modern structures; if his attention has been drawn to the best practice overseas in this regard; the way he proposes to introduce this here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23162/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Excavations at sites listed on the statutory Record of Monuments and Places are licensed by my Department under section 26 of the National Monuments Act 1930, as amended, with the exception of excavations associated with approved road developments. In the latter case, archaeological excavation works are carried out in accordance with ministerial directions issued under section 14A of the National Monuments Act 1930, as amended, following consultation with the Director of the National Museum of Ireland. The specific reasons for any application for an excavation licence or for ministerial directions are carefully considered by my Department on a case-by-case basis and licences and directions are issued, with conditions as appropriate, in line with national and international best practice. All excavations carried out under licence or directions, including those undertaken in association with development projects, have the potential to add to the overall state of knowledge of our past. My Department will continue to support the development of this information resource and to disseminate knowledge and awareness of the archaeological heritage as widely as possible.

For the past number of years my Department has provided grants, through the Royal Irish Academy, for archaeological excavations aimed at increasing the body of archaeological knowledge. For each of 2006 and 2007, these grants amounted to €200,000. I am currently considering measures that could be taken to further enhance archaeological research. My Department funds all excavations associated with conservation works to National Monuments in State ownership or guardianship and provides financial support for the publication of the annual Excavations Bulletin which summarises the results of all licensed archaeological excavations undertaken in the State. The Discovery Programme, which undertakes targeted research excavations, is supported by the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department. My Department continues to fund the publication of reports on various archaeological research projects. Last week, for example, I launched Volume 5: The New Survey of Clare Island; Archaeology. Further publications on Kells Priory in County Kilkenny, Ardfert Cathedral and a national shipwreck inventory for Counties Louth, Meath, Dublin and Wicklow are due for publication soon.

To further assist in disseminating archaeological knowledge my Department is live-testing a dedicated archaeology website, www.archaeology.ie. My Department has initiated and implemented a number of tailored education and awareness raising projects highlighting Ireland's archaeological heritage such as the Archaeology in the Classroom project for primary schools undertaken in conjunction with the Limerick Education Centre. A further version of this project tailored for Transition Year is at an advanced stage of development. It is my intention that the review of archaeological policy and practice in Ireland, which I have initiated and which will include public consultation with relevant stakeholders, will address in-depth issues of the type raised in the question.