Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2014
357. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will extend the opening hours for visitors to Kilmainham Gaol from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., with a revised opening hours from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. to cater for increasing numbers and for those who are unable to attend before the existing closing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41850/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works is currently undertaking a project at Kilmainham Gaol to provide new Visitor facilities in the former Kilmainham Courthouse building which sits immediately adjacent to the Monument. Planning Permission for this development was recently awarded and work is progressing rapidly on the project currently with a view to an early start onsite. The newly adapted building will, when it is completed early in 2016, provide much needed additional facilities to deal in safety and comfort with the significant number of visitors - approx 326,000 in 2013 - who come to this site.
The current opening times at Kilmainham Gaol are as follows:
|
Months |
- |
Times |
|
April to September: |
Daily |
0930 - 1800 |
|
October to March: |
Daily, (Monday to Saturday) |
0930 - 1730 |
|
(Sunday) |
1000 - 1800 |
Mindful of the high visitor demand for Kilmainham Gaol, and recognising the preferences of visitors, the OPW plan, as part of the new arrangements for the site, to extend the opening arrangements at Kilmainham until later in the evening to help cope with peak demand periods in particular. This mirrors the practice at other popular attractions such as the Rock of Cashel, which opens to the public until 7.00pm in the peak summer months between June and September.
The new arrangements at Kilmainham Gaol will be finalised in tandem with the programming of construction works at the site over the next 14 months approx and will be rolled out in the course of the 2015 summer season.
