Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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499. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the regulatory body that is charged with overseeing archaeological investigations to ensure that they are bona fide and are of genuine archaeological and heritage significance; if there has been an official investigation to verify the authenticity of a dig to verify that taxpayers' money has not been wasted. [39774/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to the current building project at Buttevant, Co. Cork, which has been devolved to Cork Education and Training Board for delivery.

The conditions attached to the planning consent granted by Cork County Council in relation to this project contained a requirement that archaeological monitoring be undertaken during the removal of topsoil and other ground works. The rationale underlying the requirement was the presence of a monument which is listed on the statutory Record of Monuments and Places in the vicinity of the project location, as well as its proximity to the zone of archaeological potential surrounding the historic town of Buttevant, which is also a recorded monument. I understand that ground works at the site revealed evidence of significant archaeological remains and, as a result, an archaeological excavation was commenced, which was also a planning condition.

The archaeological activity undertaken as part of the project was subject to the statutory licensing regime operated by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the purpose of which is to ensure that all archaeological activity is carried out in accordance with best practice and in a manner that ensures that a complete and meaningful record is preserved of all archaeological deposits, features and information gleaned from the work undertaken. Following full examination of the method statements detailing the archaeological works proposed for this project, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht granted licences to undertake the work, a condition of which is that the licence holders submit preliminary and full archaeological reports detailing the findings made during the course of the licensed works.