Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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328. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the efforts being made to preserve and protect the archaeological heritage of west County Wicklow; if he has consulted with local groups on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11285/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 76 of 4 February 2021.

My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service monitors designated sites through its own staffing resources and, in conjunction with other public authorities as appropriate, investigates activity within these sites in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife Acts, the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and site specific regulations.

A number of the monuments referred to are national monuments in my ownership or guardianship, as Minister, under the National Monuments Acts, 1930-2014. Such monuments are conserved and managed on a day-to-day basis by the Office of Public Works, in close cooperation with my Department's National Monuments Service, to ensure their long-term preservation and safeguarding. All recorded archaeological monuments are fully protected under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts.

For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that this question might in fact relate to any active planning case, I am precluded from any comment in such matters.