Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2016
600. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status and timelines regarding the staffing recruitment and opening of Killarney House, County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5021/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere will be limited weekend opening of the Gardens from the 3rd of April, 2016. Planting is continuing and the Gardens will fully open on completion of this work during the summer. The interpretation/exhibition phase of the project, to be located within Killarney House, is advancing. I expect that the various elements of works will be completed in the coming months and it is intended that these amenities will be open to the public later in the year.
Staffing across my Department is subject to ongoing review through the workforce planning process to ensure appropriate and effective deployment of available resources in the light of emerging business needs and priorities. My Department is currently reviewing requirements for dedicated horticultural staff in the Gardens to complement the existing resources within Killarney National Park. Once the interpretation/exhibition phase has been moved forward sufficiently, the remaining staffing requirements of the project will be addressed. In this regard, the nature of the posts required, as well as the numbers involved and the budgetary implications, will be determined in due course.
