Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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163. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 20 September 2023. [23379/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Phoenix Park is an historic landscape of international importance and one of the largest designed landscapes in any European city. Its historic continuity, together with its vast scale, urban setting and tranquillity, are the attributes that define The Phoenix Park and give it a unique appeal and integrity that compares favourably with other large historic city parks. As a natural and built historic park, enclosed over 300 years ago by a demesne wall, the Phoenix Park is unique in Ireland. The Park plays an important role for local, national and international tourism and recreation. The Park has a number of visitor attractions including the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre area which had over 2 million visitors in 2023 while Dublin Zoo welcomed over 1.2 million visitors in 2022.

The turnstiles and the entrances to the Phoenix Park are protected structures and significant modifications to these structures, to allow for cyclist access, would not be possible. Cyclists can enter and leave the Park via the Chapelizod gates and the gates at Islandbridge which are suitably wide enough for bicycles, buggies etc. Cyclists can dismount and use a pedestrian route to and from the Park via these gates.

As part of the Programme of works in the Phoenix Park, the restoration of the historic steps at the Islandbridge turnstile is planned for late 2024. These works will be subject to a tender process and consultation with the conservation team.