Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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9. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the progress of initiatives such as the free Wednesday scheme, extended opening hours and operating seasons involving the Office of Public Works sites, heritage and otherwise, with particular reference to counties Galway and Mayo; if these initiatives are subject to review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26127/15]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to progress on initiatives such as the first free Wednesday and extended opening hours and operating seasons involving the Office of Public Work sites. Are these initiatives subject to review?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Kyne for the question. The Office of Public Works operates guide services at approximately 70 sites nationwide. Some of these locations are open on a full-time basis. However, the majority, approximately 46, are open seasonally on various dates between April and October. The guided visitor sites operated in Galway and Mayo and their relevant opening arrangements this year are that Athenry Castle is open from 3 April to 22 October; Aughnanure Castle is open from 3 April to 26 October; Dún Aonghasa is open all year; Portumna Castle and Gardens is open from 3 April to 25 September and subsequently on weekends only until 26 Oct; Pearse's Cottage was open over Easter from 17 to 21 April, and is open from 22 May to 3 September; and in Mayo the Céide Fields are open from 3 April to 29 October. All of these details are available to visitors through the main web information portal of the Office of Public Works, which is www.heritageireland.ie.

As the Deputy appreciates, a number of sites may from time to time be unavailable for particular reasons. For example, a number of castle sites have no opening, or limited access to grounds only, because of urgent work being undertaken to electrical systems. Generally speaking, while the OPW tries to keep such works to a minimum to avoid the main visitor season, it is not always possible to do this and some interference in the delivery of visitor services may result.

Representations are sometimes made to extend opening dates at sites. However, it is not feasible to do this in all cases given, in particular, the significant constraints on budgets. The OPW is open to the possibility of entering into arrangements with committed and organised local partner groups which might be interested in providing limited access to sites in the off season on a volunteer basis. A number of successful initiatives in this regard have been arranged. I thank the community groups which do this because no matter what resources the OPW has available it would never be possible to open all of the sites to the maximum so we do rely on community support.

The OPW has sought to encourage more people to visit heritage sites and with this in mind, introduced the free Wednesday scheme in 2011, allowing free entry to all visitors on the first Wednesday of each month. This has been a popular initiative.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

In 2014 for example, the OPW recorded approximately 79,600 complimentary visits on these dates. The detailed position on Galway and Mayo sites, where there were 6,711 free admissions in 2014 under this scheme, is as follows:

All visitor service provision at OPW-managed heritage sites are kept under review and should circumstances dictate a different approach in the future, some of these arrangements can be modified appropriately. In some cases the OPW must be mindful that for conservation reasons access to a site experiencing over-pressure of visitors may need to be curtailed to ensure the historic fabric is not damaged. It is also appropriate, of course, to have some regard to certain more explicitly commercial considerations, given the fact that under changes introduced during 2013, the OPW can retain a certain proportion of income earned for reinvestment in the heritage estate. This may dictate a different approach in the future in regard to issues such as admission charges, franchise fees and so forth. The free Wednesday scheme, for example, which was designed to support the tourism economy at a particularly difficult time, may also need to be reassessed having regard to the income possibilities foregone. All these matters should continue therefore to remain under review to ensure that the right blend of management measures is applied for the circumstances facing the OPW. However, in all cases the OPW will operate from a general principle of maintaining a high level of public access, mindful of the central place occupied by many of these sites in the tourism economy and as part of the social and historic fabric of local communities.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I welcome the first free Wednesday initiative. We are coming up to its fourth anniversary and I am aware of the success of the initiative locally. The Minister of State mentioned areas in Mayo and Galway including the Céide Fields, Athenry Castle, Aughnanure Castle, Dún Aonghasa, Portumna Castle and Gardens and Pearse's Cottage. There are big plans for Pearse's Cottage as part of the 2016 commemoration, and the Taoiseach and the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, will visit there next Monday.

We have a rich built heritage nationwide, particularly in Visitors Galway. This needs to be linked to the Wild Atlantic Way, which is another wonderful initiative of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Fáilte Ireland and the Minister of State, Deputy Ring. Our tour guides have extensive knowledge of the sites in question. I understand there is a possibility of a recruitment competition later in the year, which will confined to seasonal guides and information officers employed at present by the Office of Public Works. This is in conjunction with the unions, as it is their wish that it be confined to those in seasonal employment at present. Some people have been in seasonal employment for up to 16 years which is of concern to them. I welcome the recruitment competition. Does the Department have a strategy for the protection and promotion of built heritage? Does the Minister of State see any other initiatives which could be evolved within budget?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Kyne. Athenry Castle had 743 visitors on free Wednesdays last year out of a total of 13,532 visitors. I will make these figures available to the Deputy. All in all, more than 6,700 people visited our heritage sites in Galway and Mayo on the free Wednesdays and more than 217,000 people visited those same sites in Galway and Mayo during the entire year of 2014. In addition to this being great for promoting our heritage it is also hugely economically beneficial in Galway and Mayo.

The guide service of the OPW is a key element of the presentation to visitors and it forms a significant part of the OPW's protection regime for the site. They present the sites in an entertaining and engaging way. Our guide workforce numbers include 82 permanent staff, and rise to approximately 350 including seasonal staff during the peak summer season. The resource is funded through the OPW vote, and in the current year €7.217 million has been provided to fund this element.

We look forward to working with Fáilte Ireland in aligning our objectives with the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State. He mentioned communities working with the OPW and I acknowledge this. I have come across certain instances of difficulties in hiring out a venue for a one-off community event for a celebration at a certain time of the year. Is a departmental or OPW insurance scheme available for communities or are they required to have their own insurance for one-off events? A celebration might involve a night-time event. Are communities required to have their own insurance or is the OPW involved? Might this area be explored?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will be happy to look at this on a case-by-case basis. The Office of Public Works approaches these issues with a view to wanting to engage with the community. We are very reliant on community support. The success of the OPW in presenting our heritage is based on this collaborative approach between community organisations, local authorities, Fáilte Ireland and the Office of Public Works. I am grateful to my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, for introducing a scheme in 2013 whereby some of the funds generated at our heritage sites can be ploughed back into further investment in them. This had never previously been available to the office of Public Works, and we are beginning to see significant progress in a number of areas. We look at specific community events on a case by case basis, with an effort to try to be helpful where possible.