Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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111. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update regarding the Government’s policy towards access to ancient archaeological sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56039/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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I recognise the immense interest and pride in our archaeological heritage held by communities across the country. These monuments provide a sense of place and a sense of pride to so many. As well as the fine work of the OPW and Local Authorities in maintaining and improving access to monuments in their own care, my own Department has as a priority the improvement of access to monuments through the archaeological grants mechanism, the Community Monuments Fund, which has a dedicated stream of funding to improve interpretation at monuments and access to them subject to landowner permission.

Facilitating and increasing access to our heritage has also been integrated into Heritage Ireland 2030, the national heritage plan, which sets out a framework for the management, protection and conservation of our heritage, including archaeological heritage and monuments. The focus on access throughout the plan includes physical access to sites and monuments, virtual access through the use of digital technologies and access to heritage as a broader principle related to the suite of social, community and economic benefits that such access can bring.

Specific actions in Heritage Ireland’s comprehensive action plan also focus on increasing and enhancing access to heritage - including archaeological heritage - across these three areas. Actions 30 to 36 of the plan focus on increasing access to heritage in the care of the State, including on a seasonal basis and through provision of enhanced visitor services and interpretation as appropriate. Action 36 centres on increasing and improving universal access to heritage for the elderly, people with disability and children, including through the use of new technologies. Other access-focused actions include increasing support for and access to heritage-focused schemes (Action 62) and enhanced collaboration between and support for bodies responsible for providing access to our heritage (Actions 83 and 85). Cross-sectoral annual updates on delivery of Heritage Ireland 2030 and its action plan by State and heritage bodies have been published on the dedicated , including the most recently published update on activities carried out under the plan in 2024.