Written answers

Tuesday, 12 February 2019

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

National Monuments

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to extend the season during which access is provided to Sceilg Mhichíl, County Kerry from 1 April with the season ending at the end of October to facilitate more persons visiting the island and to reduce pressure on the island during the summer months and to facilitate more persons earning a livelihood from the island; his further plans to provide toilets for visitors to the island using the old lighthouse there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7021/19]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Sceilg Mhichíl site generally opens to the public in mid-May, weather permitting and assuming the Island has been made safe and ready to receive visitors, and closes at the end of September -beginning of October. Access to the Island is highly variable due to weather and sea conditions and may not be feasible until later than the generally scheduled opening.

The Office of Public Works has repeatedly stated that to extend the visitor season at the Sceilg Mhichíl site beyond these dates would create unacceptable safety, logistical and operational difficulties for the maintenance and guide operation in the first instance and might also create a greater risk to the fragile built and natural heritage for which the Island is famous. Ensuring the greatest level of visitor and staff safety, at a location where there has been two fatalities in recent years, is of paramount importance during the visitor season. Necessary safety preparations are undertaken on site by OPW staff each year prior to the admittance of visitors to the island. It should also be noted that OPW previously extended the season to the end of October on a three year trial basis from 2011 to 2013 to assess the feasibility of maintaining a visitor service at that time of year but was unable, because of deteriorating weather and sea conditions, to maintain the island open to the end of that month in any of those years and was in each case forced to close early.

Work is underway currently on a new ten year management plan for the World Heritage Site and it is expected that the length of the season will be addressed directly within that. The process to develop the management plan includes a public consultation element which has been underway for the past several weeks and will allow for the full expression of views on all matters relating to the World Heritage Site.

The question of providing a public toilet at Sceilg Mhichíl has been under review for some years. However, the technical challenges of working within the particular environment of the island are considerable and it has not yet been possible to find a viable solution. The former lighthouse property is currently being assessed for potential use in this regard to determine if a suitable facility can be developed there.

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