Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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342. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total annual turnover of each individual Office of Public Works visitor site in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013; the net profit returned to the State in respect of each of these sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9200/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The OPW Heritage Service is responsible for managing approx 780 National Monuments sites in State care together with a number of other high profile heritage properties which are not themselves designated as National Monuments but which are nevertheless of considerable historic importance. The maintenance and upkeep of the National Monuments is a statutory function of the Commissioners of Public Works under National Monuments legislation dating back to the 1930’s and is undertaken by experienced conservation staff of the OPW and a network of skilled local direct labour in various locations around the country. Non National Monument sites are maintained as part of the OPW’s broader remit for the care and management of the state property portfolio, including this heritage estate. These properties have, in many cases, direct labour force teams located at the site dealing with issues such as grounds management, horticulture / arboriculture, security, event management and a range of other tasks.

In addition to the statutory function relating to the maintenance and upkeep of the National Monuments portfolio, the OPW is also responsible for the presentation of a number of sites to visitors. Currently, full guided visitor services are provided at 70 heritage sites each year; 24 of them presented on a fulltime basis and the remaining 46 on a seasonal basis generally within the period between April and September. Not all of these sites charge admission and a significant number are free entry. In 2013, approx 4.2m visitors were admitted to OPW sites with visitor services and a much greater number, well in excess of 15m for the entire estate, visited the unguided sites within the portfolio. The open public sites in this latter category include such properties as St Stephen's Green and the Phoenix Park in Dublin where there is a considerable public footfall. Some sites (ie: the Dublin Castle complex) have a multi-functional role operating in the case of the castle for example as both a high profile visitor location and a Conference Centre.

Since many of the sites operated by the OPW Heritage Service do not function as commercial concerns as such but rather are operated for the public good as part of the celebration of the nations’ culture and heritage, the question of turnover does not strictly arise. However, for the purposes of answering the Deputy’s Question, I have asked my officials to capture costs relating to those sites where we either maintain a Guide Service operation or alternatively have a workforce located (ie; ground staff, event teams etc) and to set it beside details of gross admission and sales income (where such is actually charged or received) and the overall number of visitors admitted (where such records are maintained on either a paying or non-paying basis). The cost to value equation however is not completely captured by this analysis, since there is a distinct multiplier effect in evidence having regard to both the wider tourism and the general economy which benefits to a significant degree from the availability of this unique tourist and visitor resource. I would also suggest that this analysis does not identify the social and cultural benefits that flow from the presentation of the heritage estate and the very real contribution it makes to our sense of a unique and valuable cultural identity.

The information in relation to the sites treated within the Heritage estate managed and operated by the OPW is enclosed on the tabular statement. Naturally, if the Deputy has a specific enquiry in mind which I have not addressed in this material, I will be happy to respond if he wishes to contact me directly.