Ivor Callely
Question:28 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance the total moneys available for the purpose of assistance in archaeological excavation and post excavation work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Excavation Funding.
An amount of £175,000 is available to the Office of Public Works for such work in 1994. This includes £100,000 for grant-aided research excavations on behalf of the Royal Irish Academy and £75,000 for excavations carried out by the Office of Public Works at sites in their care. A further £150,000 is available under the Environmental Action Programme for archaeological rescue of which approximately 50 per cent refers to actual excavation and post-excavation work. In addition, archaeological investigation is carried out in tandem with conservation and presentation work-programmes at various national monument sites. The latter is not readily quantifiable in financial terms.
There is also a sum of £500,000 available to the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from the national lottery for the discovery programme.