Vol. 546 No. 4
121 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number and location of ring forts or other historical sites in the course of excavation at present; if it is intended to take initiatives in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32126/01]
My Department, in accordance with the provisions of Section 26 of the National Monuments Act, 1930, as amended, has issued 1200 new archaeological licences since the beginning of this year. No ringforts are currently being excavated. However 48 of the licences issued refer to excavations that have taken place in proximity to known and possible ringfort sites. The remaining excavation licences for this year were issued for excavations at sites of various types throughout the country. Most of these relate to planning and development cases.
Among the ongoing public sector excavations, conducted under the auspices of my Department, are Barryscourt Castle, County Cork, Skellig Michael, County Kerry, and Drumfad Lower, Portsalon, County Donegal.
My Department has recently launched a public consultation document, "New initiatives for procedures and practice in archaeological licensing", which contains proposals for increasing efficiencies in the licensing system. A high priority initiative is the dissemination and publication of results of archaeological excavations. The public consultation process will last until 31 January 2002, following which revised procedures will be adopted and issued.
I am arranging to forward a copy of the document to the Deputy.
Question No. 122 answered with Question No. 120.
