The Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) recognises the expertise and dedication of our colleagues within the National Museum of Ireland. It also appreciates the difficulties which they face, on a day to day basis, in managing their responsibilities with limited resources. 

Many of the problems highlighted in the recently published report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, John Purcell, in particular those relating to storage and archival management are not recent developments. The need to provide improved resources and to build capacity in this area has been noted in many reports and studies such as Archaeology 2020 (UCD/Heritage Council 2006), Archaeology in Ireland: a vision for the future (RIA 2007), Rethinking Irish Archaeology: old ground, new ideas (IAI 2008). 

Under the terms of the National Monuments Act 1930-2004, the National Museum is the designated repository for all archaeological objects or artefacts, including those retrieved from excavation.  The National Museum also has an important supervisory and advisory role in the licensing and management of archaeological excavations. These responsibilities are managed by the Irish Antiquities Division.

Capacity-building within Irish archaeology in recent years, in line with economic development and the spectacular development of the construction industry, has largely taken place in its commercial sector. It is salutary to note that staffing levels within the Irish Antiquities Division of the National Museum have remained static during the period 1980-2006. This is despite an increase in its statutory responsibilities, an increase in researchers accessing the Archive Room, and an exponential increase in day-to-day duties, reflected in the growth in archaeological excavation activity from 117 licensed excavations in 1980 to over 2000 in 2006. 

The Comptroller & Auditor General’s report notes that artefacts from excavations comprise over a third of the current museum collection. However, this does not account for the archaeological finds from recent, development-led excavations which are currently being stored by the private sector companies due to the Museum’s shortage of storage capacity. 

It is clearly time for a concerted initiative to deal with collections policy and management, and to build an appropriate level of capacity within the National Museum that reflects the requirements of legislation, and of the profession, now and in the future.