Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

683. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to have Glenveagh National Park in County Donegal return to being open on Mondays and Fridays; the details of the staffing issues that have resulted in it being closed on Mondays and Fridays; the way in which the staffing issues can be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48658/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Glenveagh National Park remains open to visitors seven days a week all year around and, as with all National Parks managed by the NPWS, entry is free to the public. In addition to amenities such as walks, trails, viewing points and toilets, the Visitor/Exhibition Centre, Castle Gardens and shuttle bus remain available to the public almost every day of the year with an on-site café also available. A charge is levied for the optional use of the shuttle bus and to tour Glenveagh Castle itself.

While the information desk in Glenveagh Castle itself remains open seven days a week, the tours of the Castle are currently operating on a 5 day-a-week schedule, with tours currently not scheduled for Mondays and Fridays. This arrangement was introduced to ensure health and safety requirements are met and to ensure available staffing resources are maximised across the Park while reflecting patterns of visitor demand and minimising impacts on the public.

The NPWS aims to promote and ensure safe access to the amenities at Glenveagh National Park, delivering a high quality visitor experience whilst undertaking important conservation work, safeguarding the historic property of Glenveagh Castle and protecting the natural assets and biodiversity located throughout the Park.