Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It was difficult to find the phone number, but I found it eventually. I think the number should be displayed on the boards one sees when one crosses the West Link bridge. It would be useful if a phone number or an e-mail address, which people could access if they have problems, were provided on the boards that say "pay your toll by 8 p.m. tomorrow". It must be extremely difficult for people from outside the State to know what to do if they are suddenly presented with a notice of non-payment of a toll crossing. I really think there is a need for more to be done. I have given just two examples of the many complaints I have received from various people about this matter. I would appreciate it if the NRA could contact eFlow in this regard and write to me to let me know what response it receives. As I have said, I find eFlow very difficult to deal with.

My final question relates to tourism investment. Mr. O'Mahony mentioned various projects that have been funded under the allocation to Fáilte Ireland. Some of them are greatly enhanced as a result. I very much appreciate the work that has been done in this regard. My specific question relates to complaints that were made recently on radio about the decision to close Derrynane House in County Kerry, which is the ancestral home of the O'Connells, this summer because of upgrade works. It was alleged in the radio programme I heard that most of the work which needs to be done is internal work, rather than external work. Would it not be possible in such a case to do that kind of work outside the summer season? If a great deal of external work were involved, I appreciate that it may have to be done in the spring or summer. Given that this is the year of The Gathering, is there anything the Department can do to ensure Derrynane House will be open for the summer season? It is an important tourist venue in a part of Ireland that is one of this country's most important tourism centres. If similar works are needed on any other projects, can the Department issue a direction to ensure it will be possible to keep our important tourist venues open to the greatest extent at those times of the year when the greatest number of visitors will be around?