Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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417. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for a free lecture series on Irish history and archaeology; if he foresees a long-term expansion of the series; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36483/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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On 8 July, I launched the first of a series of monthly lectures organised by my Department's National Monuments Service as part of The Gathering celebrations. The lectures, to which admission is free, highlight the influences of cultural and historical developments in each of the regions on the lecture circuit and have generated considerable interest from local groups and communities. The lectures will continue up to November. Full details are published on my Department's website .

My Department is always anxious to provide the public with information about our history and heritage and takes up such opportunities whenever they are presented. In another similar initiative, the Department is publishing a series of articles on Ireland's archaeological heritage in the Irish Examiner, beginning in September.

While the lecture series I have recently launched is taking place as part of this year's Gathering, my Department will continue in the future to engage with communities and other groups, whenever possible, to assist them in understanding and appreciating their own unique local heritage.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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418. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his role in the conservation of national monuments here; if he is satisfied with the current work of the National Monuments Service; if he is concerned at the perceived increase in the damage or theft of national monuments in the previous number of months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36484/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department has a comprehensive suite of tools, both legislative and advisory, at its disposal to address reports of actual damage or threats of damage to protected structures and monuments. All known archaeological monuments, of which there are in excess of 130,000, are entitled to protection under the National Monuments Acts. The Acts allow me to make a preservation order where I consider a national monument to be at risk. Protection may be extended to previously unrecorded monuments by entering them in the Register of Historic Monuments or the Record of Monuments and Places. Many monuments are located in the more remote parts of the country and the assistance of local communities is crucial in aiding my Department in their protection. The vigilance of local people has proved to be of crucial assistance in identifying unlawful interference with archaeological monuments and objects and in their successful investigation and recovery. Prosecutions in respect of damage to recorded monuments are also initiated where warranted and there have been a number of successful convictions in the recent past, while several other investigations by an Garda Síochána are ongoing.

My Department’s National Monuments Service and the Office of Public Works, which is responsible for care and maintenance of national monuments sites, will continue to keep security measures for such sites under ongoing review.