Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

The Office of Public Works is responsible for the conservation, care and maintenance of approximately 780 national monuments, which are in State ownership or guardianship. The conservation and presentation of these monuments involves a mixture of activities including major and minor conservation projects, works to facilitate or improve the presentation and interpretation of sites and ongoing maintenance.

Twenty-one major projects, each one estimated to cost in excess of €100,000, involving conservation works in regard to the preservation of national monuments, will be undertaken in 2012. Examples of these projects include work at Ennis Friary, Nenagh Castle, Askeaton Castle and Ormonde Castle. A full list of major projects, including the programmed expenditure, can be provided to the Deputy.

OPW-managed sites attract 3.5 million visitors per annum. In order to enhance the visitor experience, a range of services are provided including interpretative centres, parking facilities, improved universal access, flood-lighting and interpretive panels. Minor works and ongoing routine maintenance will continue during 2012. These are part and parcel of the ongoing annual programme. The budget allocation for the maintenance of national monuments in 2012 is €14.73 million. The visitor services budget, which covers the cost of providing guide services at 69 individual national monuments, is approximately €7.4 million this year.

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