asked the Minister for Finance if funds will be made available during 1986 for regional excavation and research to the Department of Archaeology, University College, Cork; the amount of money allocated in each of the years from 1982 to 1985 inclusive; if he will agree that excavation and conservation of archaeological sites has made a major contribution to our knowledge of Ireland's heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Archaeological Excavation Grants.
107.
Grants for archaeological research excavation are, in the normal course, made to the Royal Irish Academy which then decides on the allocation to individual projects subject to final approval by the Commissioners of Public Works. Usually the allocation provides grants for projects under the direction of staff of the Department of Archaeology, University College, Cork. A major excavation at Dublin Castle must be completed this year to enable the construction of the new conference centre planned for the site to be ready for the next Irish presidency of the EC in 1990. In view of the very large expenditure, £300,000, which must be allocated to this excavation in 1986, and the restrictions on the resources available to the commissioners, they are not in a position to allocate funds to the academy for archaeological research this year.
The grants made by the Commissioners of Public Works to the academy for archaeological research excavation in the past four years were as follows:
|
1982 |
£100,150 |
|
1983 |
£100,200 |
|
1984 |
£94,500 |
|
1985 |
£98,810 |
I agree that these grants are very worthwhile and that they have made a major contribution to our knowledge of Ireland's heritage. I hope that it will be possible to resume the funding of research excavations next year even though a considerable allocation of funds will have to be made in 1987 for post-excavation work on the Dublin Castle project.