Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 3

Written Answers. - Archaeological Sites.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

219 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of ancient forts or burial grounds throughout the country which are listed or protected; the number in respect of which archaeological explorations have taken place; the number of such initiatives planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30345/00]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The Record of Monuments and Places – RMP – which was fully established in 1998 gave legal protection to some 120,000 sites nationwide. The RMP for each county consists of a set of Ordnance Survey constraint maps, together with an accompanying index. Because of the sheer size of the RMP it is not possible to distinguish between ancient forts and burial grounds and other monuments or site types included in the RMP.

The majority of archaeological excavations have been undertaken as a result of development activity and its resultant impact on archaeological remains. These excavations have been carried out by consultant archaeologists under licence from my Department. While approximately 900 such licences have issued so far this year, my Department is not in a position to say what excavations are planned for the future.

My Department's published policy states that preservation of archaeological sitesin situ is the preferred option. Generally it is only in situations where sites are being unavoidably impacted upon such as in road construction, that preservation by record, i.e. archaeological excavation is undertaken.