Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

319. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 357 of 31 January 2018, the number of the 20,164 individual archaeological excavation licences issued by the National Monuments Service under section 26 of the National Monuments Act 1930 since 1995 that resulted in the discovery of remains or features of archaeological interest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6232/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Data relating to the numbers of discoveries of remains or features of archaeological interest arising solely from archaeological excavations licensed under Section 26 of the National Monuments Acts 1930 is not compiled or categorized separately by my Department. New archaeological discoveries come to light from a number of sources, including excavations. The total of recorded archaeological sites and monuments now numbers in excess of 140,000 and is added to regularly.

My Department issues archaeological licences under the terms of the National Monuments Acts having full regard to its Policy and Guidelines on Archaeological Excavations first published in 1999.

All excavation licences are issued on the basis that the investigations are for the purpose of searching for archaeological features and to provide for their subsequent recording or protection. A standard licence condition requires a report to be submitted to my Department on the results of each investigation.  Summary reports are published in the independent Excavations Bulletin which contains certain annual data on archaeological discoveries made through individual excavations. Data from the Bulletin is available from 1969 onwards at www.excavations.ie.