Written Answers. - Archaeological Sites.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:
34
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands
if her attention has been drawn to the fact that archaeological monuments continue to be destroyed; the rate of destruction; and the steps she is taking to put an end to this practice.
[4873/01]
In 1999, the Heritage Council published a report entitled Archaeological Sites at Risk. This report was based on a pilot survey of 2.2% of the land area of the State and found that 29% of the 1400 monuments in the area under research had been destroyed in the 140 years between 1838 and 1978. Related evidence would appear to suggest that as many as 15 monuments were destroyed in one year spanning 1997 and 1998.
I have previously acknowledged that a problem exists, notwithstanding the significant resources devoted to this area. However, I am satisfied that good progress is being made by my Department in protecting our archaeological heritage notwith standing the increased impact on that heritage arising from the upsurge in development work on foot of our unprecedented economic growth. The planning and development process has been geared up with a view to identifying potential impacts on the archaeological heritage at an early stage thus enabling mitigation strategies to be devised. In addition, there are now over 45,000 farmers included in the REP scheme which obliges them to avoid negative impacts on archaeological sites and monuments which may be located on their properties.
For my own part, and since publication of the Heritage Council report, I have introduced a number of measures aimed at supporting the protection of the archaeological heritage. These include the following: the resolution of the long-standing contractual difficulties in relation to the archaeologists employed on contract in my Department; the authorisation of an additional eight archaeological posts in the archaeological service of my Department; clearance of the backlog of archaeological licence reports and reduction in the period for processing new applications; and agreement on a code of practice with the National Roads Authority on the protection of archaeological sites under its road development programme. The latter will serve as a model for similar codes with other development sectors with whom discussions are ongoing.
Despite the progress being made, there is more to be done. While protection of the archaeological heritage is underpinned by extensive legislation already in place which gives legal protection to the 120,000 known archaeological sites and monuments throughout the country, I am anxious to ensure that the legislation continues to meet our needs as the archaeological heritage faces up to the pressures of a new millennium. I have, therefore, initiated a review of national monuments legislation and, following an initial public consultation process, my officials are now actively working on a consolidation of all of the built heritage legislation which comes under my remit into one, comprehensive and cohesive law. This, of course, will need to be complimented by better education and public awareness, which I am constantly striving to achieve through various initiatives, including an annual heritage newsletter to all primary schools in the country. I also intend to publish shortly a natural heritage plan which will present an overview of the initiatives already taken and planned to conserve our heritage.
My Department continues its core activity of identification and validation of archaeological sites and monuments under the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. The information thus collected and disseminated is a vital tool in helping those involved in all aspects of land management to arrive at informed decisions. I am happy to say that Ireland is to the fore internationally in undertaking such a comprehensive survey and half the country has been covered so far in individual publications. I am proposing to step up the rate of progress on the survey with the aim of having all field survey work completed by 2005.
