Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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272. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ask officials from the Office of Public Works to re-engage with a person (details supplied). [29374/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of Arterial Drainage Schemes and Flood Relief schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995 as amended. The area in question does not form part of an Arterial Drainage Scheme, therefore the OPW does not have the authority to carry out any drainage maintenance at this location.

Riparian owners of land have an important role in ensuring that watercourses are managed and free flowing so that in extreme weather events the risk of flooding can be minimised.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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273. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW has ever or will make an application to designate lands (details supplied) as either a special area of conservation and special protection area, otherwise known collectively as NATURA 2000 sites and or a natural heritage area. [29417/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works has never made an application to designate lands as either a special area of conservation and special protection area, otherwise known collectively as NATURA 2000 sites and or a natural heritage area. The designation of a site as a special area of conservation and special protection area is a matter for the National Parks and Wildlife Services.

It is important to note that there are two distinct parcels of lands to which the Deputy refers. One is owned by the State and managed by the Office of Public Works, the other lands are in private ownership.

The lands which are owned by the State have been actively managed for biodiversity conservation and gain since 2007. The historic landscape surrounding the House is expertly managed by a team of horticultural specialists in the OPW and is an exemplar site for the All Ireland Pollinator Plan with some grasslands of Annex 1 quality under the EU Habitats Directive. Extensive pollinator surveys have been conducted which have identified a large number of bumblebee, butterfly, hoverfly, and solitary bee species. Other studies have recorded a high diversity of tree, bird, and other invertebrate species. The landscape is of high value to grassland plants regionally due to the increasingly urban nature of the surrounding landscape.

The Office of Public Works has no remit in the management of the privately held lands adjacent to the State owned lands.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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It is not intended to tender for provision of restaurant/café services at Dublin Castle at present as a process is currently underway to redevelop the visitor reception facilities at Dublin Castle.

The space formerly occupied by the tearooms/café has been prioritised for redevelopment as part of a planned new visitor hub for the Castle.

Visitors are already well served by numerous cafés and restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the Castle including at the Silk Road Café at the Chester Beatty, adjacent to the Dubh Linn gardens.