200. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of all artefacts, historical objects, archival materials and heritage items acquired by the National Monuments Service in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to-date in 2026, including the nature of the item, the acquisition date and the acquisition cost in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50305/26]

201. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total monetary value of all artefacts, historical objects, archival materials and heritage items acquired by the National Monuments Service in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to-date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50306/26]

202. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the policies, procedures, governance arrangements and approval processes that apply to the acquisition of artefacts, historical objects, archival materials and heritage items by the National Monuments Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50307/26]

203. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail all acquisitions of artefacts, historical objects, archival materials and heritage items by the National Monuments Service with a value in excess of €10,000 in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to-date in 2026, including the item acquired, the acquisition value and the source of funding used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50308/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 200, 201, 202 and 203 together.

The National Monuments Service does not ordinarily acquire artefacts, historical objects, archival materials and heritage items and does not have any such items from 2023 to 2026.

The State does on occasion acquire heritage structures and monuments, which are either of national or strategic importance, as resources and opportunities permit. Usually this is in the interests of the preservation, conservation and management of monuments or sites. Such acquisitions are considered within the context of available resources, which includes public expenditure management considerations.

In all cases, the Department assesses potential acquisitions carefully, taking into consideration similar existing properties within the State portfolio, gaps in the State portfolio, any conservation works required, and the cost of acquisition and maintenance over the short and longer term to the Exchequer.

Accordingly, the Department is only ever in a position to make a very limited number of acquisitions as all related expenditure must be met from within existing voted allocations.