Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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83. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the repair work completed during the recent filming on Sceilig Mhicíl in County Kerry. [33824/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) maintains access for visitors to Skellig Michael for about 4.5 months of the year, from mid May to the end of September. During this time, it would be expected that approx 11,500 / 12,500 visitors would land on the Island when weather permits.

From time to time, in the normal course of events, steps leading to the Monastery at Skellig Michael may become slightly loosened through the actions of nesting birds or by the passage of human feet. These incidents are a regular occurrence throughout the summer and, because of their particular implications for safety, are closely monitored by the OPW guides and maintenance staff who remain onsite during the season. As occurrences are observed therefore, they are dealt with as soon as the area is clear of visitors. This does not involve introduction of new material but rather concerns the tightening up of steps which may have loosened by re-using the dislodged fabric. Work of this nature was carried out in the week ending Friday 19th September.

A second repair was also necessary recently at an entry point through a wall near to the Monastery. An incident had occurred at this location in approx mid June when stones in the drystone entrance jamb at the entrance point were accidentally dislodged by visitors. At the time, a repair was effected by the onsite OPW staff and the damage was rectified. The same material was again inadvertently dislodged by a visitor passing through the entrance on 17 September. The entrance was immediately protected and access curtailed while a repair was carried out by OPW stonemason staff onsite. The work took a short time to complete and normal access through the entrance was restored immediately thereafter.