Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 6

Written Answers. - Archaeological Sites.

Enda Kenny

Question:

350 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 1 February 2000, she will clarify her remarks that inspections carried out by staff in her Department indicate that the archaeological work being carried out remains sub-standard; the nature of the sub-standard work involved; the reasons in this regard; the action, if any, she has taken to rectify this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10977/00]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

Inspections of archaeological excavations carried out by my officials have revealed that there are cases where the standard of work is below that which would be expected from the profession.

Instances of work falling below standard are outlined in a tabular statement which has been forwarded to the Deputy.

I should also point the Deputy to the further evidence for sub-standard work which is contained in the heritage council's recent report Review of Archaeological Assessment and Monitoring Procedures in Ireland.

Many of the problems are caused by the failure of developers to arrange for archaeological testing to be carried out at the earliest possible stages in the planning of their developments. Far too often, insufficient notice is given to the archaeologist of the date on which sites become available. In addition, the amount of development work now taking place means that there is an ever increasing demand on the archaeological profession and a consequent tendency to rush through, test excavations in particular, with an inevitable fall in standards.

There is a clear need for more inspections of archaeological excavations and for more detailed guidelines on the correct procedure and practices to be followed for testing and on the production of reports. A seminar on these matters would be of benefit and has been recommended in the heritage council report. For my part, I am in the process of recruiting additional archaeologists coupled with repositioning existing resources so as to introduce a systematic programme of site inspections, to undertake the production of guidelines and to hold a series of follow-up seminars. I am confident that these measures will have a beneficial effect on the standard of archaeological work among the profession as well as serving the best interests of the development sector and all those with an interest in preserving our heritage.