Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
350. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will resolve issues of access for metal detectors on State lands; and if boundary issues near historical sites will be clarified so that members of the public can pursue the hobby of metal detecting. [14853/13]
View answer351. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding access to State land for persons using metal detectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14971/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 351 together.
Measures to regulate the use of metal detectors were introduced in the National Monuments Act (Amendment) 1987 to protect our archaeological heritage from irreparable damage and loss from the indiscriminate use of metal detectors to search for artefacts or archaeological objects. The 1987 Act sets out the statutory provisions in relation to the general use of metal detectors to search for archaeological objects on any lands and the particular requirements applying to their use on protected monuments and archaeological sites. Detectors may be used only under the terms of Consents issued by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to named individuals for a specific site or sites only. In practice, such Consents are issued for professional archaeological purposes only. The locations and boundaries of protected monuments and archaeological sites are set out on the website of my Department’s National Monuments Service, www.archaeology.ie .
My Department, in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland, is currently drawing up an advice note for the public in relation to metal detecting. I expect the advice note to be available shortly.
