Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the Office of Public Works engagement to protect the Glendruid Dolmen in Brennanstown, Dún Laoghaire; and if efforts will be made to ensure continued public access to this important historical site. [2480/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Glendruid Dolmen in Brennanstown is in the Guardianship of the State. Section 5 of the National Monuments Act (1930) allows owners of other national monuments to appoint the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage or the relevant local authority as guardian of such monuments, subject to their consent. This means in effect that while the property of such a monument remains vested in the owner, its maintenance and upkeep are the responsibility of the State. Glendruid Dolmen is one such monument and it came into State Guardianship in 1931. The then-owner reserved the right to restrict public access to the monument. This remains the position of the current owner today. There is, however, a recognised right-of-way for the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland to access the site for the purpose of maintenance. OPW is committed to its role in the protection, preservation and conservation of all National Monuments in State care, including Glendruid Dolmen in line with its legislative obligation. The OPW has no role in the provision of public access in this instance. Unfortunately, public access cannot be facilitated where a public right-of way is not in place.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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24. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans that exist for the expansion of opening hours of the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and the War Memorial Gardens to bring them in line with the nearby Phoenix Park OPW site. [2488/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In reply to your question, the Phoenix Park is unique in Ireland, comprising many components that serve a variety of functions. While it is a historic landscape of international significance enjoyed by millions of people on a yearly basis, it is also home to a number of important institutions including St Mary’s Hospital, Garda Headquarters and Aras an Uachtarain, all of which require 24 hour access. Further, it occupies a strategic position within the greater Dublin area, as the main road of the Park, Chesterfield Avenue, is a major artery linking the Castleknock/Blanchardstown area to the city, which is also regularly utilised by emergency services over the 24 hour period.

With regard to the Irish National War Memorial Gardens (INWMG) and the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Royal Hospital, Kilmainham) (IMMA), these parks and gardens are solely utilised for recreational, commemorative and cultural purposes with no requirement for 24-hour access.

The Irish National War Memorial Gardens at Islandbridge occupy an area of about eight hectares on the southern banks of the River Liffey, almost opposite the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park and approximately three kilometres from the centre of Dublin. The gardens commemorate the 49,400 soldiers who lost their lives in the WWI and some 450,000 people visit these exquisite and tranquil gardens on an annual basis.

Works on the iconic Royal Hospital commenced in 1680 to accommodate ‘the aged and maimed officers and soldiers’ from the Irish armies and was largely completed and occupied by 1687. The baroque gardens and surrounding grounds have been recreated to offer the public opportunities to appreciate culture, biodiversity and designed landscapes, while providing the setting for the Royal Hospital.

Both the INWMG and IMMA are culturally sensitive locations with historic buildings and fragile landscapes, which are enjoyed by nearly one million recreational visitors on an annual basis, during daylight hours. It is important to note that similar locations throughout Ireland managed by Local Authorities such as Malahide Castle grounds, closes every evening from 4pm to 9pm depending on the season. Likewise areas within the Phoenix Park such as the Peoples Gardens operate similar opening hours to Malahide Castle, INWMG and IMMA.

While the grounds of the INWMG are open via a right of way along the Liffey, the park gates are open from Monday to Saturday from 7.30am to 4pm/ 9pm depending on the season and from 9.30am on Sundays.

The grounds of IMMA are open to the public, Monday to Saturday from 8.00am to 6.30pm and on Sundays from 11.00am. They are closed on Good Friday and 24 December to 26 December.

The opening and closing times for both the INWMG and IMMA should not be considered in the same light as the Phoenix Park, given their distinct differences in scale and functions. Further, both INWMG and IMMA were designed to be utilised during daylight hours and would pose a serious risks to the public’s safety should they be opened during the hours of darkness. In addition, neither park has sufficient public lighting nor staff in order to maintain the appropriate levels of security that would be required to protect the public, monuments and buildings etc.

Accordingly, the OPW has no plans to alter the general opening times of the Irish National War Memorial Gardens or the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art at present, but will keep the opening times under review.