NEW MOVES to improve archaeological protection on major building projects were announced yesterday. The new codes of practice will apply to all new infrastructural projects such as motorways, power lines and wind farms.
Their introduction follows a surge in business in recent years among firms involved in archaeological surveys and excavations due to the State’s motorway programme.
More recently the archaeology industry has received a renewed surge in business due to the number of applications for wind farms.
Developed jointly by the ESB, Eirgrid, the Irish Concrete Federation and the Department of Environment, the new codes will allow work to improve infrastructure while “addressing archaeological implications in a structured manner, sensitive to the need to protect archaeological sites and monuments”.
Launching the codes yesterday, Minister for the Environment John Gormley said the organisations involved had shown a strong commitment to the conservation of archaeology in their plans and to an overall approach that is sustainable and sensitive to Ireland’s unique heritage.
He added: “The codes show that development and conservation can go hand in hand . . . “Being pro-heritage does not equate to being anti-development.”
