Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2017
128. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which to her Department has evaluated the economic potential of various local, historical and heritage sites throughout the country with a view to their utilisation for educational and tourism purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40925/17]
View answer130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of heritage sites throughout the country which have been archaeologically excavated to facilitate visitor and educational interest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40927/17]
View answer131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department continues to examine historical sites throughout the country which might benefit from archaeological excavation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40928/17]
View answer132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which her Department has identified extra sites throughout the country suitable for archaeological investigation and excavation to ensure greater access and availability for tourism and educational purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40929/17]
View answer134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she is committed to improving access to historical sites and structures with a view to attracting a greater number of interested enthusiasts, tourists, school children and students; if parking at such locations is a priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40931/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 128, 130 to 132, inclusive, and 134 together.
My Department oversees the protection, preservation, conservation and presentation of our heritage assets. The archaeological and built heritage goals of my Department's National Monuments Service and Built Heritage and Architectural Policy Section working with key stakeholder agencies, are to conserve and manage our unique heritage for the benefit of present and future generations. My Department also works in close partnership with the Office of Public Works (OPW) which manages the State's portfolio of heritage properties on my behalf.
The role of heritage in driving tourism is well known, with research by a number of bodies, including Tourism Ireland providing objective data on its economic return, which is substantial as the ever-increasing record number of visitors to this island are drawn in many instances by its heritage and culture. Data indicates that some 6.63 million visits were recorded at OPW managed sites in 2016, an increase from just over 2 million visits in 2008. Over 80,000 children availed of the OPW's Free Schools Visits programme during 2016 and free access was also given to all children under the age of twelve throughout the summer season.
Our built and archaeological heritage also plays a critical role in assisting communities across the country in sustaining pride of place as well as employment. Guidance on the extremely popular a Monument scheme has been issued by the Heritage Council in recent months providing a framework and guidance to community groups who wish to actively engage with their heritage.
My Department is working with the OPW and Fáilte Ireland through a Strategic Partnership Agreement aimed at delivery of capital and non-capital initiatives at key heritage sites in my ownership. The priority goal is to improve the experience of visitors, of tourists, of school children and the general public alike, through improvement of interpretation, access and facilities, including car-parking, in line with the conservation agenda of each site.
My Department’s heritage officials are also working with colleagues in the Department of Rural and Community Development to ensure that built heritage across the country is receiving investment through local and community-led projects that are helping to drive heritage tourism and economic renewal throughout rural Ireland.
In terms of identifying sites, the Archaeological Survey of Ireland within my Department’s National Monuments Service continues its work in mapping our archaeological resource of over 140,000 monuments across the country, assisted by the notification of potential new sites by members of the public and our 3rd level education sector.
Excavations are carried out at national monuments in my ownership or guardianship to facilitate conservation works and to improve presentation for educational and tourism purposes. Recent excavations carried out for such purposes have included St. John’s Castle, Carlingford, Co. Louth, Glendalough Co. Wicklow and at the Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary. All such archaeological excavations are of course undertaken under licences issued by me in accordance with the National Monuments Acts. Such licences are only issued to suitably qualified archaeologists who submit proposals that comply with standards of best practice.
My Department also supports a country-wide programme of research excavations through the Standing Committee for Archaeology in the Royal Irish Academy. Current projects include excavations at Caherconnell in the Burren, Co. Clare which has become a busy tourist attraction and at Ballynamintra Cave in Co. Waterford. A number of other research excavations, predominantly organised by the academic sector, have been recently licensed at sites in counties Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Sligo and Mayo.
