Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of the recently published Phoenix Park visitor experience strategic review carried out by the OPW and other bodies; the cost of the previous traffic study of the Phoenix Park by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18500/19]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the person or agency that commissioned the Phoenix Park visitor experience strategic review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18501/19]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together.

The Strategic Review of visitor Experience in the Phoenix Park was commissioned by the Office of Public Works with funding from Fáilte Ireland. This initiative was taken as part of a wider programme of work which has been agreed under a Strategic Partnership between Fáilte Ireland/OPW/Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The programme includes projects such as the redevelopment of the visitor centre at Brú na Bóinne and development of the Record Tower at Dublin Castle as a new element of the visitor experience at the Castle.

It is expected that the Strategic Review of the visitor experience at the Phoenix Park will cost in the region of €400,000. This is provided for through grant funding of €300,000 from Fáilte Ireland (accounting for 75% of the cost of the project) and OPW is providing the match funding of €100,000. To date €286,176 has been expended on the project.

The cost of the traffic study conducted by Faber Maunsell in 2006 was €88,253.83. This covered the costs of undertaking traffic counts throughout the Park, development of modelling and forecasting studies, presentations and stakeholder engagement in addition to the production of the final report.