Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Donal Carey

Question:

66 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason no contracts were renewed with Duchás staff dealing with underwater archaeology since 9 February 2000; if she considers this to be satisfactory; the action she will take to ensure that such service continues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10936/00]

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

As the Deputy may be aware, difficulties have arisen with the way in which contracts for service have been used by my Department to provide services across a number of areas including underwater archaeology. Discussions are ongoing in relation to having the matter regularised and these have reached an advanced stage. I am hopeful of an early resolution but until such time as agreement is reached on all the issues, it is not possible to enter into any new contracts for service.

The personnel engaged to provide underwater archaeological services had no direct contract with my Department. They were subcontracted by a contractor who terminated his services to us on 9 February 2000. For this reason, there was no contract available for renewal and for the reasons I have outlined, it was not possible to enter into any new contracts.

As a result, it has been necessary to temporarily scale down our activities in this regard. While this is not altogether satisfactory, a reduced level of service continues to be maintained. It is my intention to address these difficulties in the very near future through a combination of recruiting more archaeologists and deploying a number of them to the underwater archaeological unit. I also intend to reallocate resources from those at present available to me. I am confident that these measures will lead to a more efficient and effective service in the protection of the underwater archaeological heritage than existed heretofore.