John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his proposals to excavate the remains of a vessel (details supplied); when this excavation is to occur, if it is to be wholly funded from the Exchequer; if so, the amount that it will cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29735/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The presence of the shipwreck referred to by the Deputy was notified to my Department in 2010 by a local dive team. Following preliminary investigation, my Department concluded that the surviving structure and the finds retrieved from the site pointed to the likelihood of the wreck being of Spanish origin dating from the sixteenth century. This also coincided with existing records of at least two Spanish Armada wrecks having foundered in the area.

Because the wreck is in shallow water, close to shore and vulnerable to interference, following consultation with the National Museum, I approved funding of €60,000 to allow my Department to retrieve any recoverable artefacts and to examine and record the wreck structure in detail. Excavation commenced in August of this year and over a three week period, with the assistance of the Geological Survey of Ireland which provided a dive platform, approximately half the interior of the site was excavated. Finds included pottery, weaponry and personal effects that reinforce the initial conclusion that the wreck is from the Spanish Armada period. The National Museum of Ireland is conserving these artefacts, which I expect will be put on display either in the National Museum itself or in a designated local facility.

Subject to availability of funding, I hope that the excavation can be completed in 2012 and that the wreck site can be stabilised to provide access to interested divers under licence from my Department.