Written answers
Wednesday, 9 September 2020
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Office of Public Works
Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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116. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all sites under the remit of the Office of Public Works have admission fees and the capacity to accept bookings online. [22763/20]
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The following OPW-managed Visitor sites apply admission charges in the normal course:
| OPW-Managed Visitor Sites. | |
|---|---|
| Altamount Gardens | Farmleigh Estate |
| Ardfert Catherdral | Garnish Island (Illnacullin) /Bryce House |
| Athenry Castle | Glebe House and Gallery |
| Aughnanure Castle | Glendalough Visitor Centre |
| Battle of the Boyne/Oldbridge Estate | Hill of Tara |
| Blasket Visitor Centre/Ionad an Bhlascaoid | J. F. Kennedy Arboretum |
| Boyle Abbey | Jerpoint Abbey |
| Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre, Newgrange & Knowth | Kilkenny Castle |
| Cahir Castle | Kilmainham Gaol Museum |
| Carrowmore | Mellifont Abbey |
| Casino Marino | National Botanic Gardens (charge for guided tour) |
| Castletown | Ormond Castle |
| Céide Fields | Parke's Castle |
| Charles Fort | Ionad Cultúrtha an Chonamara/Pearse Cottage |
| Clonmacnoise | Portumna Castle |
| Derrynane House | Rathfarnham Castle |
| Desmond Castle | Reginald's Tower |
| Donegal Castle | Rock of Cashel |
| Doneraile House & Garden | Roscrea Heritage Centre |
| Dublin Castle | Ross Castle |
| Dun Aonghasa | Sligo Abbey |
| Dunmore Caves | Swiss Cottage |
| Emo Court | Tintern Abbey |
| Ennis Friary | Trim Castle and Keep |
Currently, admission charges have been lifted at all but the following sites as a measure designed to encourage domestic visitors and to support the tourism economy:
| Admission Charges Lifted | |
|---|---|
| Bru na Boinne (Newgrange & Knowth) | Farmleigh Grounds (Guided Tour) |
| Clonmacnoise (half price) | Garinish Island (half price) |
| Derrynane House | Kilkenny Castle |
| Doneraile Estate | Kilmainham Gaol Museum |
| Dublin Castle | Rock of Cashel (half price) |
The following sites are free admission at all times:
| Free Admission | |
|---|---|
| Askeaton Castle | Loughcrew |
| Ballyhack Castle | Mainguard |
| Barryscourt | Maynooth Castle |
| Corlea Visitor Centre | Newmills |
| Desmond Hall | Pearse Museum |
| Dungarvan Castle | Phoenix Park Visitor Centre |
| Ferns Castle | Scattery Island |
| Gowran Church | Skellig Michael |
| Kells Priory | St. Audoen's Church |
| Listowel Castle |
Currently, OPW has an ongoing programme underway to provide Online Booking facilities at suitable sites. To date, the following locations have been enabled to accept advance online bookings:
- Kilmainham Gaol Museum;
- Dublin Castle;
- Brú na Bóinne;
- Ionad Cultúrtha an Chonamara / Pearse Cottage;
- Kilkenny Castle;
- Clonmacnoise
- Castletown.
- Rock of Cashel
- Cahir Castle
The following sites are in progress and Online Booking facilities will be available for the start of the 2021 season:
- Blasket Visitor Centre/Ionad an Bhlascaoid
- Doneraile House
- Derrynane House
- Charlesfort.
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