asked the Minister for Finance if he will make immediate arrangements for the publication of a report on the work carried out to date on the archaeological survey.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Archaeological Survey.
8.
Mr. Kenny
Arrangements for the publication of the archaeological survey have been held up because of staff shortages. Even if adequate staff were available completion of the necessary work preparatory to publication would take a considerable time.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary inform us as to the amount of work that has been completed on the survey? Would I be correct in thinking that in three counties it is fully completed and in three others partially undertaken?
Mr. Kenny
Yes. As far as I can see here, the survey is completed only up to the year 1200; it would be from ancient times to 1200. That has been completed in Louth, Meath and Monaghan. The survey is in progress in Westmeath and Cavan and has started in Longford and Kildare. Therefore, there are three completed, with surveys in progress in Westmeath and Cavan and started in Longford and Kildare.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it is of very great urgency that the amount of work done to date be fully reported on? This information is anxiously awaited by scholars and others and it is essential that the amounts of work done, small enough as it is, be fully reported.
Mr. Kenny
I fully agree with the Deputy. The cause of the hold-up is staff shortages and when you have staff shortages the cause may be and probably is money shortage. I agree with the Deputy, it is really a tragedy that places can be forever destroyed that contain archaeological remains of antiquity and our heritage is gone forever when it is destroyed.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are a number of aspects to this matter? Is he aware, first of all, that an essential part of the survey is the publication of what was done and that it is really essential to any progress in this whole area that this survey be got on with as quickly and as expeditiously as possible? The completion of the survey at the earliest possible moment would go some way towards repairing the appalling situation that exists at the moment in regard to the disappearance of our archaeological heritage. Would the Parliamentary Secretary in so far as his limited resources permit—and I know in the public service resources are always limited— afford the highest priority he can both to the expediting of the survey itself and to the publication of the results? Finally, may I say that I distinctly recall as a young Deputy in this House the then Deputy James Dillon pressing continuously and assiduously for the expendition of work on this survey? So that, if my appeal is not of sufficient weight with the Parliamentary Secretary perhaps he would advert to that distinguished predecessor?
Mr. Kenny
With the combined weight of the Deputy's plea and his predecessor's plea, I can only do my best. All this depends upon the amount of finance it is possible to get. I will do my best because I realise the problem and it is a pity that such remains should disappear.
Could I ask——
Could I ask that we deal more briskly with these questions? We are making very little progress.
We are making a great deal more progress than is being made with the survey.
Be that as it may.
I know the Parliamentary Secretary shares my anxiety in this whole area but apart from the perhaps troublesome question of having more resources allocated to his Department would he use that well-known Mayo ingenuity of his to perhaps reallocate resources inside his office to enable this survey to be pursued more actively than it is?
Mr. Kenny
I will use all my resources, mental and physical.