The Heritage Council Annual Report 2002

2. ADVICE TO THE MINISTER
The Council provided advice to the Minister on the following six areas
Thatch Policy
On the 24th June, the Council launched its thatch policy document at Johnstown
Castle, Wexford. Following this publication, the Heritage Council, Dúchas and the
DOENI have been actively engaged in the implementation of a number of the
recommendations of the report relating to training, accreditation, insurance, materials
and an inventory of thatched buildings in Ireland.
Unpublished Excavations in the Republic of Ireland
1930 – 1997
The Council submitted a copy of its report on Unpublished Excavations in the
Republic of Ireland 1930 – 1997 to the Minister. The Report demonstrates that in
1997 the backlog of unpublished excavations was 1,358. Council now estimates from
data published by the Department of Environment and Local Government that the
backlog has reached 4,753 excavations and may exceed 10,000 by 2006. Much of this
increase is being driven by the requirements of the National Development Plan. These
unpublished excavations’ archives represent a substantial national investment,
estimated by the National Roads Authority to amount to 5% of the total cost of the
national roads programme alone. They have millions of associated artifacts and
human and animal remains as well as environmental samples, which require
conservation, study and curation. For the state to realise its investment in this area it is
important that this information be made available in an accessible manner to the
public. This report makes a number of recommendations for developing structures and
procedures for bringing this situation under control.