Vol. 139 No. 9
I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £121,530 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge whichwill come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1954, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Institutions of Science and Art, for certain Miscellaneous Educational and Cultural Services, the Centenary Commemoration of Thomas Davis and the Young Ireland Movement, and sundry Grants-in-Aid.
Science and art cover the museum. Our operations in the region of Lough Gara, drainage operations, brought to light the greatest assembly of crannogs heretofore discovered in Western Europe. The excavation of certain of these crannogs was begun but has had to be suspended because there is no money to continue the work. I wonder would the Minister dig up a couple of thousand pounds, for that is all that is needed, to allow this work of excavation to proceed on a limited scale, in any case, until a comprehensive scheme of excavation is undertaken.
There were certain difficulties about the manner in which Lough Gara should be tackled. I do not propose to expatiate on these, but there will be no difficulty about the money.
Will the excavation actually proceeding be allowed to be completed in respect of the particular crannog being excavated, whatever about the whole thing?
It will be tackled as a whole.
There is a limited excavation work going on, the investigation of one of the crannogs. I am not asking the Minister to make provision for the excavation of the entire site of 127 crannogs. I am asking if he will facilitate the completion of the excavation on the one crannog which is at present under investigation, but in respect of which investigation has had to be suspended.
We will do that.
