asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state, in respect of grants for land improvement under the farm modernisation scheme, if (1) there is a precondition to the approval of plans that no ancient monument or other item of historic interest will be destroyed or damaged; (2) there are procedures for the checking of all plans in consultation with qualified persons to ensure that the plans do not involve the destruction of or damage to such monuments or items of historic interest; (3) he is aware of any case in the past in which a grant may have been given for works wherein such destruction or damage might have taken place; and (4) there is any established procedure for liaison between his Department and the National Monuments Division of the Office of Public Works in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ancient Monuments.
Works which involve considerations relating to ancient monuments or other items of historic interest are only approved for grant aid after consultation with the Office of Public Works and subject to such conditions as that office may lay down.
I am not aware of any case where a grant was paid by my Department in respect of works that interfered with or damaged a site of archaeological or historic interest.
Has the Minister received representations from the Ormonde Historical Society which indicate evidence to their knowledge of national monuments or potential national monuments—items of historic interest which could be declared to be national monuments—having been destroyed in the course of land reclamation works? I know this representation has been passed to his Department.
I have not any information such as the Deputy mentions. In all cases, some to my personal knowledge, of ancient monuments of one kind or another being endangered by a land improvement scheme, these matters are referred to the Office of Public Works. I am not aware of the case the Deputy mentions.
Is the Minister aware that not all ancient monuments may be scheduled as such on a map or other document? Unless the person surveying the ground has a reasonable knowledge and an eye to see these things, a plan may be approved which involves the destruction of such a monument without anybody knowing until too late that a national monument has been destroyed. Would the Minister agree that his officials should be alerted of this possibility and informed of what to look out for, and also that a better liaison procedure should be established between his Department and the Office of Public Works?
I have not any indication that the existing liaison between ourselves and the Office of Public Works is not adequate.
Have the Minister's officials been alerted to this and are they aware of what to look for?
Yes.