Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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436. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which valuable archeological sites continue to be protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4596/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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All known archaeological monuments, of which there are in excess of 130,000, are entitled to protection under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004. Protection may be extended to previously unrecorded monuments by entering them in the Register of Historic Monuments or the Record of Monuments and Places. The Acts allow me to make a preservation order where I consider a national monument to be at risk. As Minister, I am the owner or guardian under the National Monuments Acts of approximately 1,000 national monuments located at approximately 750 sites. Maintenance of such monuments is undertaken on my behalf by the Office of Public Works. Local authorities are responsible under the Acts for maintaining the national monuments of which they are owners or guardians.

My Department records all reports of damage to recorded monuments. Such reports usually emanate from members of the public, local authorities or heritage-based NGOs. Prosecutions in respect of damage to recorded monuments are initiated by my Department where warranted and there have been a number of convictions for such offences in recent years.