The IAI is very happy to welcome the announcement of nearly €1m in funding being made available for the recruitment of heritage professionals in 2025, as part of an overall €5m allocated to the Heritage Council. As an organisation, the IAI has, over many years, advocated for the employment of local authority archaeologists. Some local authorities have already done this and the benefits to those counties have have been significant. The news that a full complement of local authority archivists, architectural conservation officers, and archaeologists will be in place by the end of 2026 is a fantastic sign of the desire to strengthen heritage and empower local authorities to protect and care for their heritage.
We look forward to seeing a new crop of heritage professionals come into play and the benefits this will surely bring their local authorities.