asked the Minister for Finance in relation to an archaeological excavation at Carrownaglogh in County Mayo, towards which £34,900 in State grants were paid between 1969 and 1977: (a) the number of objects of archaeological importance discovered, where they are lodged and if they may be seen by the public; (b) to whom they belong; (c) if an annual report on the finding of the objects in question was lodged in full accordance with section 23 of the National Monuments Act, 1930, and, if so, when; and (d) if it is proposed to give any further grants towards the excavation.

The archaeological excavation at Carrownaglogh, County Mayo, revealed no archaeological objects.

No decision has been made to give further grants for the excavation and I have requested the Commissioners of Public Works to bear in mind the record of archaeologists in furnishing reports on archaeological excavations when considering the making of grants for such purposes in future.

Would the Minister consider it usual or otherwise that an excavation carried out at an expense of £34,000 should disclose the findings of no objects whatsoever over a period of almost a decade?

If there was nothing there they could hardly find anything. And one could not know until one started to look whether or not there was anything there.

Would the Minister consider that the continued giving of renewed grants each year to an excavation which was not finding anything was correct?

They consider that.

Why do they keep giving grants?

They consider that before they make any allocation of further funds.

Then why do they keep on giving grants?

As the Deputy knows, they give grants in many instances for excavation around the country. Prior to the beginning of the excavation surely one cannot know whether or not there are going to be finds.

But the grants were given each year for a period of eight years.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, in which he said that no archaeological objects were found, can he indicate from the reply written for him if any archaeological information about the settlement pattern was found during that period as distinct from specific objects?

Yes, considerable evidence of human activity has been discovered on the fossilised landscape under the bog which has revealed a landscape totally different from that visible on the peat bog land of the present day. Extensive areas of stone walled enclosures, cultivation ridges and evidence of field clearance show how extensive were man's everyday activities in this region. These features give a good picture of what a farming community was like in Neolithic times, in the years 2,500 B.C. to 1,900 B.C. and are of international significance.

And they did not have petrol then either.

Hardly worth the money.

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