Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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371. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to reopen tours going to Skellig Michael (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19568/20]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As announced publicly by the Commissioners of Public Works today, a review of the closure of Skellig Michael has been undertaken within the Office of Public Works in recent weeks to assess whether it could be feasible to reopen the site to visitors before the end of the season, normally scheduled at the end of September.   This review has concluded, after consulting with various parties locally, including the Skellig Boatmen's Association, that it is not yet safe to open the island and that it must remain closed for the remainder of the 2020 season.  

I appreciate that this will cause a lot of disappointment locally.  However I can assure the Deputy that the review has been a particularly rigorous exercise which led to the inescapable conclusion that there are just too many risks that cannot be managed in a way that satisfies the requirements of the public health guidelines.   As the Deputy will appreciate, Skellig Michael is a particularly unique site with a set of challenges attached that go way beyond what is experienced at an “ordinary” landside location.

The Deputy will of course be aware that other OPW sites locally in Co Kerry such as Derrynane House & Gardens and National Monuments such as Ballinskelligs Abbey, Cahergall Stone Fort etc remain available and I trust will prove a continuing draw for visitors, as will the Skellig Experience Centre which I know is also open for business.   I know too that there is a thriving trade in Portmagee taking people on sightseeing boat trips around the Skellig islands and I am aware that demand for this is good, so hopefully there will still be enough people around in the area to ensure that the closure of Skellig Michael does not ultimately prove to have too detrimental an impact locally.