Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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809. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide data on the number of cultural heritage sites supported by the Government, and the funding allocated to their preservation and promotion, over the past five years, alongside visitor statistics for each of these sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42277/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works is responsible for conserving, maintaining and presenting Ireland's most important heritage sites including over 780 National Monuments, 32 Historic Properties and circa 5,000 acres of gardens and designed landscapes nationwide.

The mission of OPW Heritage Services is to conserve and protect the National built heritage in our care whilst providing public access, interpretation and encouraging the public to visit and engage with our national heritage.

The OPW strives to manage heritage sites in a manner that balances our remit to protect the heritage assets with the provision of informative and excellent guided visitor experiences, modern interactive interpretation and ensuring inclusive access for all visitors.

The Office of Public Works receives voted funds through the Oireachtas to fund the staff, operational, maintenance and capital costs of caring for our national Heritage portfolio. Funding is provided on an annual basis.

The total funding allocated to OPW Heritage Services during the 5 year period of 2021 to 2025 is set out in tabular form below:

Detailed visitor figures for individual heritage sites are provided in the table below. The data includes guided sites and a number of unguided sites where a visitor counter mechanism is in place. Sites listed as 'closed' were generally unavailable to the public due to conservation works requiring temporary closure.