Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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284. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with regard to the cannons which were recently lifted from La Juliana, a ship of the Spanish Armada fleet which sank in 1588 and which lies on the seabed off the coast of County Sligo, her views that they should be returned to County Sligo when they are in a safe condition to do so, in order to be put on public display in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25241/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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At present, the State archaeological services are concentrating on delivering the highest standards of excavation and recording of the Armada wreck site of the Juliana at Streedagh, as well as arranging for the conservation of the cannons recently retrieved from the site. This work will take a considerable length of time to complete and the conservation of the cannons is the first priority for my Department and for the National Museum of Ireland. The Director of the National Museum has indicated that he would be sympathetic to proposals to display objects from the site locally, provided that a Museum of the required standard is available to ensure the protection of the artefacts. For many decades, the National Museum has extended loans of objects of local significance, most often to county or city museums that are funded and managed by local authorities.