Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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204. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider extending the opening hours of a public amenity and visitor attraction (details supplied); and if he will direct the organisation responsible to provide an explanation of the limited difference between summer and winter opening hours. [17182/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The National Botanic Gardens is one of the Office of Public Works most visited attractions, last year there were over 580,000 visitors to the Gardens. The present winter opening hours are 9-4:30pm on weekdays and 10-4:30pm on weekends and public holidays. In summer, weekday opening hours extend till 5pm and weekends to 6pm. Winter closing is predicated by day length and summer closing by the end of the working day for staff. Opening at weekends requires that a minimum number of staff are on duty to oversee the collections and the glasshouses as well as the safety of the visiting public.

Whilst the Gardens do provide an important public amenity, they are also a scientific collection. Unlike a public park such a collection requires greater oversight, of which the care and attention given to plants on a daily basis is very different to how other parks are managed. This is due to both the rarity of some of the specimens, but also on account of legal undertakings made with donor countries and institutions, which are governed by the Nagoya Protocol to which Ireland is a signatory (since 2012).

There are restrictions on certain activities in the Gardens, including picnicking, running, cycling, ball games and dog walking all of which are incompatible with the scientific and conservation aspects of the collection. These activities are catered for in the numerous surrounding public parks; which include Griffith Park, Tolka Valley Park, Johnstown Park and Albert College Park. These latter parks stay open later than the National Botanic Gardens and include playgrounds and a diversity of places to walk and relax.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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205. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the assets owned by the OPW in the Templemore district. [17229/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland own the following properties in the Templemore district.

1. The Garda Training College

2. Dromard House Estate, Clonmore

3. Templemore Golf Club

4. Bungalow at Tallavera

5. 7 Garda Houses in Templemore.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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206. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the lands owned by the OPW in Clonmore; and the rent received each year by the OPW from these lands from 2007 to 2016, inclusive. [17230/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The OPW own Dromard House Estate at Clonmore which consists of 256 acres of land made up of 160 acres of grazing and the remainder in woodland. The rents received per annum are as follows:

Rents received per annum

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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207. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the OPW was not receiving rent for the lands it owned in Clonmore, County Tipperary; the reason the Garda College was renting out the land instead of the OPW; if the attention of the OPW was drawn to the fact that since 2007 rent was being paid to the Garda College for the land; and if so, the reason this was allowed to happen. [17231/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The OPW purchased the lands at Clonmore on behalf of the Garda Training College in 2006 and let the lands for 2007 and 2008 through the services of an auctioneer.

For the years 2009 to 2013 the Garda Training College took over the letting of the lands and continued to lease the lands to local farmers. In addition to this, OPW understands, the property was utilised for tactical training purposes and off road driving.

In 2014 the OPW, following discussions with the Garda Training College, took over the responsibility again for the leasing of the lands. OPW’s primary objective was to put in place a longer-term lease with the ultimate objective of improving the quality of the land.

While all rents payable have been received by the State in full, the OPW has held meetings at senior management level with An Garda Síochána to determine if monies collected by them should have more properly been remitted to OPW. OPW are satisfied that An Garda Síochána are fully investigating the issue and will revert appropriately.