Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
381. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide a full list of heritage sites maintained by the OPW that have guided visitor experiences, in tabular form; the cost to the Exchequer of providing the visitor experiences free of charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56817/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for caring, maintaining and operating the country’s most important heritage sites. The mission of OPW Heritage Services is to conserve and protect the nation’s built heritage in our care whilst providing public access, interpretation and encouraging the public to visit and engage with our Nation's heritage.
The Office of Public Works receives funding through the Oireachtas to fund the staff, operational, maintenance and capital costs of caring for our National Heritage portfolio.
The OPW charges admission fees to virtually all sites where visitor services are provided i.e. sites that are staffed with a Guide service either year-round or seasonally. Free admission is offered at Sceilg Michíl UNESCO World Heritage Property, however, private boat operators provide access to the island and visitors pay the service providers directly. Free admission may be offered on occasion where part of an OPW site is closed for maintenance or for conservation works.
As such, there is no appreciable cost to the exchequer through loss of income from the provision of free admission in these limited instances.
Separately, the OPW cares for 780 National Monuments nationwide and there are a number of un-staffed monument sites across the country that are free to access by the public.
The 2022 income per site location is provided in tabular form below. Information on OPW sites which offer guided services is attached and set out in tabular form with the correlating admission charges.
|
Site |
County |
2022 € |
|
Ennis Friary |
Clare |
€30,380.00 |
|
Annes Grove |
Cork |
€16,323.00 |
|
Charles Fort |
Cork |
€275,150.00 |
|
Doneraile Estate |
Cork |
- |
|
Garinish Island |
Cork |
€196,019.00 |
|
Donegal Castle |
Donegal |
€154,664.00 |
|
Glebe House and Gallery |
Donegal |
€11,480.00 |
|
Casino Marino |
Dublin |
- |
|
Custom House |
Dublin |
€14,646.00 |
|
Dublin Castle |
Dublin |
€1,905,988.00 |
|
Farmleigh |
Dublin |
€32,890.00 |
|
Kilmainham Gaol |
Dublin |
€1,447,650.00 |
|
National Botanic Gardens |
Dublin |
€8,920.00 |
|
Rathfarnham Castle |
Dublin |
€5,449.00 |
|
Athenry Castle |
Galway |
€20,705.00 |
|
Aughnanure Castle |
Galway |
€65,068.00 |
|
Dun Aonghasa |
Galway |
€336,135.00 |
|
Pearse's Cottage |
Galway |
€17,147.00 |
|
Portumna Castle |
Galway |
€49,086.00 |
|
Ardfert Cathedral |
Kerry |
€10,967.00 |
|
Blasket Centre |
Kerry |
€86,237.00 |
|
Derrynane House |
Kerry |
€47,228.00 |
|
Ross Castle |
Kerry |
€105,726.00 |
|
Castletown House |
Kildare |
€71,034.00 |
|
Jerpoint Abbey |
Kilkenny |
€55,166.00 |
|
Kilkenny Castle |
Kilkenny |
€1,447,068.00 |
|
Parke's Castle |
Leitrim |
€37,023.00 |
|
Mellifont Abbey |
Louth |
€2,403.00 |
|
Ceide Fields |
Mayo |
€54,841.00 |
|
Battle of the Boyne |
Meath |
€7,843.00 |
|
Bru na Boinne |
Meath |
€1,056,439.00 |
|
Trim Castle |
Meath |
€101,384.00 |
|
Clonmacnoise |
Offaly |
€502,206.00 |
|
Boyle Abbey |
Roscommon |
€14,320.00 |
|
Carrowmore |
Sligo |
€84,761.00 |
|
Sligo Abbey |
Sligo |
- |
|
Cahir Castle |
Tipperary |
€218,340.00 |
|
Ormond Castle |
Tipperary |
€8,414.00 |
|
Rock of Cashel |
Tipperary |
€1,516,669.00 |
|
Swiss Cottage |
Tipperary |
- |
|
Reginald's Tower |
Waterford |
- |
|
J F Kennedy Arboretum |
Wexford |
€88,775.00 |
|
Tintern Abbey |
Wexford |
€43,908.00 |
|
Glendalough Visitor Centre |
Wicklow |
€151,418.00 |
|
Total |
€10,299,870.00 |
Where “Nil” return is recorded, this refers to sites where no income was received, due to closures while site works were being carried out.
Below is a list of OPW Heritage Sites which provide a guided service, and the correlating admission fee
