Vol. 183 No. 13
I move—
That a sum not exceeding £134,510 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1961, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Valuation Office, the Ordnance Survey and certain Minor Services.
I should like to ask the Minister if any further consideration has been given to the proposal to make an aerial survey of this country. There are many aspects of that project to which I might refer. It could serve a very useful purpose from the point of view of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Local Government. I should like to refer particularly to its antiquarian value. I have mentioned this on previous occasions but I should like to refer to it again.
This country is reputed amongst archaeologists to be the greatest storehouse of archaeology in Europe. For a variety of reasons, only a tithe of the archaeological sites have been discovered by peripatetic surveys. An aerial survey has been made of one great archaeological site at Croghan in Roscommon. An opportunity has been afforded, therefore, of comparing the picture presented by the aerial survey with that available from the peripatetic survey which, if the Minister wishes to refer to it is in the Department of Agriculture in the Land Project section. He will see that the peripatetic survey revealed only seven archaeological sites at Croghan, and the aerial survey from a very cursory examination by archaeologists discerns somewhere between 30 and 40 of such sites.
I believe the same situation would be reproduced in very many areas of the country if such surveys were undertaken, and the great danger is that unless such surveys are undertaken soon, a great many of those archaeological sites will be irretrievably lost. Now, utilitarians may say: "Surely you do not propose that all archaeological sites should be preserved forever?" Of course I do not, but I do not think they should be destroyed without a proper archaeological investigation. Once they have been investigated and reported, the vast majority will then pass into history. It is tragic to see a great wealth of archaeological material being annually dissipated because we do not know of its existence.
There are aspects of this matter from the point of view of the Department of Defence, and, I believe, the Department of Industry and Commerce and the Department of Agriculture, which would strongly recommend the undertaking of an aerial survey. However, suffice it to say that in addition to the other considerations which I now advance, an aerial survey has been undertaken of almost every other civilised country in the world and indeed a great many uncivilised countries.
Such a survey is long overdue here. Our territory is eminently susceptible to it because it is confined and because our boundaries are clearly defined. I invite the Minister to consider the not very substantial expenditure that would be involved in such an undertaking, and whether it is done by independent contractors or by the Irish Army, in consultation with the Ordance Survey, is probably a matter of indifference. It would not cost a lot of money and once done, it would be available forever and would provide a vast field on which archaeologists could work for some generations. As I said, with the passage of every year the value of such a survey decreases as the things we seek to preserve are inadvertently destroyed.
I should like to say to the Minister that I think the case made last year by Deputy Dillon, and again briefly this year, deserves very careful consideration. There is a very important survey going on at the moment. It should be speeded up. The best type of survey in modern times is the aerial survey.
We have had a number of suggestions put forward here recently with regard to the necessity for purchasing helicopters for various uses. Here is a first-class use to which a helicopter could be put. The cost of the helicopter need not necessarily be borne on this Vote because, if helicopters were in the possession of the State, they could be used for various purposes, such as training, ship-spotting, trawler-spotting within the three mile limit, life saving, and ambulance services. There is a tremendous variety of work on which they could be engaged. At the moment the survey is being carried out in a very labourious fashion. Heavy, precious equipment has to be carted up and down hills. In every other country that I know of these surveys are now generally made by air. I understand the helicopter would be ideal for this purpose. I hope the Minister will give serious consideration to the suggestion.
I am interested in the points put forward by both Deputy Dillon and Deputy McQuillan. I shall certainly have the matter looked into to see if we can do anything in the direction Deputy Dillon suggests.
