Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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137. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures being taken to protect a heritage site (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26593/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The site in question is currently being archaeologically excavated in accordance with the requirements of conditions imposed by the planning authority when it granted the relevant planning permission under the Planning and Development Act 2000. The archaeological excavation itself is licensed under section 26 of the National Monuments Act 1930. That licensing process ensures that the archaeological excavation is carried out scientifically and in accordance with professional standards. In particular, conditions attached to the excavation licence require that a report will be submitted to my Department once the excavations and post-excavation analysis are complete.

My Department is aware of the matters circulated on social media last week and a joint statement was issued by the National Monuments Service of my Department and the National Museum of Ireland in relation to that. The issue of access to the site is a matter for the owner of the site. It is understood that the owner of the development site and the archaeologist engaged by them carrying out the excavation have put additional security measures in place to prevent any further unauthorised access.