asked the Minister for Finance the proposals, if any, to make further grants from public funds available for archaeological excavations during 1979 in addition to the £1,620 already allocated and, if so, when the grants will be paid.

The question of making further grants available from Vote 9 for archaeological excavations during 1979 is under consideration.

Is the Minister aware that it is usual to allocate this money to archaeologists much earlier than 20 June in view of the fact that these excavations are usually carried out during the summer months? The fact that there has been a delay until now is rendering the allocation almost useless. Will the Minister state the reasons for the delay in making the allocations?

I am informed that questions have been raised about the adequacy of the accounting arrangements hitherto in operation in relation to the expenditure of some grants, to whom and for what purposes such grants should be made in future, the adequacy of the conditions attaching to the issue of such grants, the non-observance of the conditions by some of the recipients of such grants. Until these have been resolved, no further grants will be made.

Do I take it from what the Minister has said that it is unlikely, therefore, that there will be any allocations made for excavations during the summer?

I should not like to hazard a guess on that.

Have the matters to which he referred as being under investigation been under investigation for some time, and therefore a conclusion is likely to be reached soon, or have the inquiries into the matter commenced only recently?

I understand the inquiries have been under way for some time, but pressure of other urgent work, including the considerable time spent by the staff of the Office of Public Works on the Wood Quay affair, has delayed consideration of the matter.

Would the Minister not agree it was remiss of the Office of Public Works not to have clarified these matters before now, rather than having them dealt with in such a way that excavations will be impossible during the current summer?

The issues have been raised and they have to be clarified.

Why were they not raised before now?

Question No. 9.

9.

asked the Minister for Finance if and when the Office of Public Works carried out excavations at the site of Dublin Castle; if so, the cost of the excavations and if a report of the excavations has been lodged in accordance with the terms of section 23 of the National Monuments Act, 1930.

The cost of the excavations at Dublin Castle which were carried out in 1961-62 was £310. No report was lodged in accordance with section 23 of the National Monuments Act, 1930.

10.

asked the Minister for Finance if the archaeological survey being carried out by the Office of Public Works has been completed in respect of County Meath and County Louth; if so, if he will arrange to publish the results of the study and, if not, why.

Apart from architectural monuments the archaeological survey of these counties has been completed. The results of the survey are being prepared for publication.

Will the Minister confirm that the results for County Meath and County Louth will be published separately, and that publication will not have to await the completion of the survey of the entire country? Secondly, will he state when he expects publication to take place?

I am afraid I cannot indicate when publication will take place. I understand it is intended to publish the results without waiting for the results from the whole country. I cannot assure the Deputy that there will be a separate report in regard to Meath and Louth. That may be so, but I cannot give the Deputy that assurance.