Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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333. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if access to Maynooth Castle, Maynooth, County Kildare, will be made available all year round to the local community to facilitate interest groups and tours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27374/13]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Maynooth Castle is one of 70 guided sites administered by the Office of Public Works (OPW). In 2013 the Castle is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 30 May to 25 September from Wednesday to Sunday and on bank holidays. There is no admission charge to the site and visitor numbers for 2011 and 2012 were 9,444 and 13,852 respectively. Several other OPW managed sites, which have a guide service during the summer months, remain closed for the winter season This is primarily due to budgetary constraints. It is not possible in the current economic circumstances to extend the opening season at these locations. In order to address situations like this, I introduced the Communities Involvement Initiative in 2012, the aim of which was for local community-based groups, which had an interest in the development and promotion of heritage sites, to get involved on a non-commerical basis with OPW and, subject to certain criteria being met, to assist in the presentation of sites outside of the normal opening times. Last month, I again sought expressions of interest from local communities by way of the national press, this time under a new heading "Become a Friend of Irish Heritage". Proposals may still be submitted and I would encourage parties in the Maynooth area who wish to promote their local heritage to get in touch with the Office of Public Works.