Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Apr 1992

Vol. 418 No. 7

Written Answers. - Dublin Urban Renewal.

Michael Noonan

Question:

113 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance if he has examined a submission on urban renewal and archaeology forwarded to him by An Taisce, arising from their concern at the current situation at Christchurch Place in Dublin 8; and his views on the action they suggest in their submission.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

114 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if he has received correspondence from An Taisce in connection with urban renewal and archaeology; if, in respect of that correspondence, he will outline his views on the suggested five points of action that were proposed by An Taisce; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. N. Treacy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together.

As announced on Friday, 24 April last in the press release for the Finance Bill, 1992, it is intended to bring forward on Committee Stage of that Bill an amendment to provide for a final and definitive time extension to the existing deadline of the end of May 1993 which applies to the designated areas generally. While it would not be appropriate to anticipate the details of the extension at this time, an extension per se will ease time pressures on the commencement of development in order to meet the current deadline.

Policy in regard to urban archaeology is as outlined in the Urban Archaeology Guidelines document published in 1989 by the National Monuments Advisory Council. The principles propounded in these guidelines included the use of construction techniques enabling archaeological remains to be preserved in situ for future examination. The present development at Christchurch Place is proceeding in accordance with this principle.

Section 4 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act, 1987, provides for the establishment of an Historic Monuments Council in place of the National Monuments Advisory Council which was governed by earlier legislation. The question of bringing this section into operation and that of establishing an Historic Monuments Council are being considered in conjunction with the matter of establishing the National Heritage Council on a statutory basis.

With regard to the question of a funding policy for archaeological excavation, a special programme entitled the Discovery Programme was initiated in 1991 to work towards a coherent and comprehensive picture of human life on this island from earliest times. The budget of £500,000 provided in the current year for this purpose is a major addition to the funds already being provided for archaeological research and for excavations at national monuments. There is a limit to the extent that the State can provide finance and where archaeological excavation is required for development purposes the policy is that the developer should bear the cost.

The possibility of international co-operation regarding archaeological excavation is being borne in mind but it is unlikely that funding from abroad will be available in the foreseeable future.