Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which access to major heritage sites continues to be available to the public; if his attention has been drawn to reduced access to such sites for any particular reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37142/11]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Heritage Service of the Office of Public Works is responsible for the conservation, care and management of approximately seven-hundred and eighty (780) national monuments that are in State ownership or guardianship. Of these, some fifty (50) monuments and twenty (20) historic properties are presented to the public by way of a dedicated guide service. Many of the sites are open year round, while others open on a seasonal basis. These can be visited by prior arrangement or by contacting an OPW appointed key holder. Information on opening times and the open season at staffed monuments and heritage properties is available on www.heritageireland.com. Many other national monuments that do not have a guide service are freely accessible to the public. Some monuments, however, are situated on privately owned land and do not have public right of access unless with the permission of the landowner. A number of monuments may be closed for a period for the purposes of conservation works.

It is the policy of the Office of Public Works to ensure that as many of the monuments under its care are accessible to the public. A recent initiative to offer free access on one day each month to all monuments at which a charge normally applies has raised public awareness of these sites and has resulted in a significant increase in visitor numbers. With the exception of Cormac's Chapel on the Rock of Cashel and Boyle Abbey where conservation works are in progress and Dublin Castle where improvements to visitor facilities are taking place, it is understood that there have been no further incidents of reduced access to heritage sites.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will set out the ten heritage sites, structures or buildings that attracted the most visitors in each of the past five years and to date in 2011; the benefit in terms of tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37143/11]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I regret that the relevant information could not be collated in the time available for written reply. A response will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.