Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2004
246 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of national monuments or sites currently under archaeological investigation or in the course of excavation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23079/04]
View answerUnder section 26 of the National Monuments Act 1930, as amended, my Department is responsible for licensing archaeological investigations and excavations. Since 1930 in excess of 11,000 licences have been issued. For the current year approximately 1,400 have issued to date.
The National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 provides that any works of an archaeological nature that are carried out in respect of an approved road development, must be carried out in accordance with directions issued by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Under section 14A of the National Monuments Act 1930, as amended, two such directions have been issued to date.
