Written answers

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

National Monuments

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to meet the relatives of the leaders and insurgents of the Easter Rising 1916. [14811/13]

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will forward the Frank Myles Battlefield Report and the National Museum Report and Recommendations on Moore Street to the Save Moore Street group of relatives of the 1916 leaders and insurgents as promised at a 2012 meeting with the group. [14629/13]

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 352 together.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently considering an application for consent under section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930, as amended, for proposals that include the provision of a commemorative centre to the 1916 Rising and its Leaders in the national monument. I have met various interest groups, including relatives of the 1916 Leaders, in relation to the consent application.

As the notice published by the landowner on 18 January 2013 relating to the environmental impact statement associated with the consent application was not compliant with the statutory requirements, the consent applicant was required to produce an amended public notice. This was published on 21 March 2013. A further period of 5 weeks from that date is now available for presentation of submissions or observations to my Department in relation to the environmental impact statement.

In general terms, it would be the norm that the release, if requested, of documents associated with such a consent application would take place following completion of the relevant deliberative processes. It should be noted that, as provided for by statute, the environmental impact statement in relation to the application is open for inspection at my Department's offices and those of Dublin City Council.

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will resolve issues of access for metal detectors on State lands; if boundary issues near historical sites will be clarified so that members of the public can pursue the hobby of metal detecting. [14853/13]

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding access to State land for persons using metal detectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14971/13]

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 351 together.

Measures to regulate the use of metal detectors were introduced in the National Monuments Act (Amendment) 1987 to protect our archaeological heritage from irreparable damage and loss from the indiscriminate use of metal detectors to search for artefacts or archaeological objects. The 1987 Act sets out the statutory provisions in relation to the general use of metal detectors to search for archaeological objects on any lands and the particular requirements applying to their use on protected monuments and archaeological sites. Detectors may be used only under the terms of Consents issued by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to named individuals for a specific site or sites only. In practice, such Consents are issued for professional archaeological purposes only. The locations and boundaries of protected monuments and archaeological sites are set out on the website of my Department’s National Monuments Service, .

My Department, in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland, is currently drawing up an advice note for the public in relation to metal detecting. I expect the advice note to be available shortly.

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