Written answers

Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Heritage Sites

Photo of Shónagh Ní RaghallaighShónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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345. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the full running costs of Farmleigh House, from 2018 to date in 2025, in tabular form. [15480/25]

Photo of Kevin MoranKevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Farmleigh Estate was acquired by the State in 1999 and it encompasses Farmleigh House, seventy eight acres of gardens, a lake and parklands with two gallery/exhibition areas, outdoor buildings and a farmyard.

The primary use for Farmleigh is as a secure State guest house. Farmleigh has accommodated high profile visitors such as US presidents, the late Queen of the England and other members of the British royal family and many heads of State and other VIPs. Farmleigh also hosts international diplomatic meetings and conferences in a secure environment as well as Irish government business on a regular basis.

Farmleigh is also a high profile heritage site with approximately 63,000 paying visitors and 227,000 visitors to the parklands.

Farmleigh hosts and extensive cultural programme and regular schedule of events such as India Day, Japan Day and Nepal Day. The galleries accommodate a full schedule of exhibitions all year round and the Farmleigh markets are extremely popular. The Christmas , Easter and Halloween programmes at Farmleigh have grown in both scale and popularity in recent years. There is also a very popular café, the Boathouse Restaurant, in the parklands.

The attached expenditure sets out the annual running costs for the estate encompassing both staffing costs and operational expenditure on goods, services and utilities. The figure for expenditure on pay includes all costs relating to security constables and the operation of twenty four hour security of the site. It also includes the pay for general operatives, gardeners, administrative staff and guides who deliver guided tours of the house.

The non-pay operational costs include all maintenance costs for the house and wider estate (including Stewards Lodge) as well as utilities, supplies and all goods and services. The costs for maintenance and operation of the wider estate are also paid from this budget.

Photo of Shónagh Ní RaghallaighShónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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346. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the dates that the Stewards lodge was occupied between 2018 to date in 2025; and also the total running costs of the residence from 2018 to date in 2025. [15481/25]

Photo of Kevin MoranKevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The dates of occupation of Stewards Lodge for the period sought are attached.

Stewards Lodge is cared for and maintained as part of the wider Farmleigh Estate. Utilities are not metered separately. As such, it is not possible to extrapolate specific running costs for Stewards Lodge from overall expenditure at Farmleigh.

The expenditure for Farmleigh House comprises the annual running costs for the House which encompass both staff costs and operational expenditure on goods, services and utilities. The figure for expenditure on pay includes all costs for the constables which provides security for the House on a twenty four hours per day basis. The pay figure also includes general operatives, gardeners, administrative staff and the guide service which delivers guided tours of the house. The non-pay figure includes all maintenance costs for the house as well as utilities and supplies.

Photo of Shónagh Ní RaghallaighShónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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347. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if discussions have been had between his Department and the Office of the President in Áras an Uachtaráin regarding the redevelopment, redesign and restoration of the State and public rooms in the Áras an Uachtaráin building and the grounds. [15482/25]

Photo of Kevin MoranKevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) is tasked with the conservation, maintenance and presentation of the buildings and grounds at the Áras an Uachtaráin. There is a continuous process of identifying and undertaking essential repair and maintenance at the site to ensure that buildings are protected and presented to the highest standards.

At this time, there are no immediate plans for the redevelopment, redesign and restoration of the State and public rooms at Áras an Uachtaráin other than routine maintenance work and conservation.

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