Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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391. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to extend the opening hours of the key historical and cultural institutions for the duration of the peak tourist period in Summer and early Autumn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36407/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department and the bodies funded from its Vote Group are committed to maximising the tourism potential and to increasing visitor numbers to Ireland's historical and cultural institutions.

In this regard, my Department has been liaising with the various cultural institutions to ensure that high quality exhibition programmes are in place in these institutions during the peak tourist period. In relation to the opening hours in our cultural institutions, my Department is committed to working with the institutions to ensure that existing opening hours are maintained at this time of reduced funding and human resources. Indeed, in recent years, the underlying trajectory in visitor numbers to the institutions has been upwards.

In relation to Ireland's National Parks and Nature Reserves, which my Department manages, I can advise the Deputy that, while opening times have not extended in these heritage sites, 70 additional staff have been recruited for the duration of the peak tourist season with a view to enhancing the visitor experience and providing the tourist with additional services and tours.