Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 April 2017
204. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider extending the opening hours of a public amenity and visitor attraction (details supplied); and if he will direct the organisation responsible to provide an explanation of the limited difference between summer and winter opening hours. [17182/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Botanic Gardens is one of the Office of Public Works most visited attractions, last year there were over 580,000 visitors to the Gardens. The present winter opening hours are 9-4:30pm on weekdays and 10-4:30pm on weekends and public holidays. In summer, weekday opening hours extend till 5pm and weekends to 6pm. Winter closing is predicated by day length and summer closing by the end of the working day for staff. Opening at weekends requires that a minimum number of staff are on duty to oversee the collections and the glasshouses as well as the safety of the visiting public.
Whilst the Gardens do provide an important public amenity, they are also a scientific collection. Unlike a public park such a collection requires greater oversight, of which the care and attention given to plants on a daily basis is very different to how other parks are managed. This is due to both the rarity of some of the specimens, but also on account of legal undertakings made with donor countries and institutions, which are governed by the Nagoya Protocol to which Ireland is a signatory (since 2012).
There are restrictions on certain activities in the Gardens, including picnicking, running, cycling, ball games and dog walking all of which are incompatible with the scientific and conservation aspects of the collection. These activities are catered for in the numerous surrounding public parks; which include Griffith Park, Tolka Valley Park, Johnstown Park and Albert College Park. These latter parks stay open later than the National Botanic Gardens and include playgrounds and a diversity of places to walk and relax.
