The Discovery Programme was established as a non-statutory, purely research body in May 1991 on the personal initiative of the then Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Charles J. Haughey. In 1993 responsibility for the organisation was transferred to the newly established Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.  In 1996, under the then Minister, Michael D. Higgins, the Discovery Programme became an independent body and an autonomous Company - the Discovery Programme Ltd – to be funded through the Heritage Council.  We now operate completely under the aegis of, and with funding by, the Heritage Council, as was confirmed to Dáil Éireann (the lower house of Irish parliament) in a statement by Minister Síle de Valera on 21 February 2001.

The organisation is now constituted as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital.  In addition to our main grant from the Heritage Council, small sums are generated by the sale of our research publications, by additional grants from various interested parties and from making available our surplus technical capacities (mainly specialist survey and IT resources) to other individuals or bodies involved in archaeological research.

We are audited by the government auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General and, in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding of 1998, a small number of administrative matters still require the approval of the government department concerned with heritage affairs, now the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.  Otherwise we are a fully independent body, most notably in relation to our research agenda.

The Discovery Programme is currently exploring additional sources of income for its research projects

The Film Programme

Interviews and analysis from the world of cinema. Francine Stock talks to directors, writers and critics about the latest film releases, classics on DVD and movies on television.

Promoting Knowledge and Understanding of Sudan and South Sudan. The Programme's remit is above politics, ethnicity and religion.