Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 June 2024
146. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the details of the arrangement whereby English and Manx heritage cards get free access to OPW sites; the amount received by the OPW; and the reason no reciprocal deal exists for OPW heritage card holders in the UK. [26843/24]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for caring, maintaining and operating the country’s most important heritage sites. The mission of OPW Heritage Services is to conserve and protect the nation’s built heritage in our care whilst providing public access, interpretation and encouraging the public to visit and engage with our Nation's heritage. The Office of Public Works strives to manage heritage sites in a manner that balances our remit to protect heritage assets with increased, more interactive, empowering and inclusive access for visitors.
The agreement to accept both English and Manx Heritage Cards and allow free admission at OPW- run heritage sites was made in 2015 through OPW officials.
The OPW and Fáilte Ireland work together in a strategic partnership, and both strive to promote heritage and boost tourism within Ireland. The context for the OPW agreement at that time was to make it more attractive for international visitors to come to Ireland; increase tourism revenue and to support the hospitality industry. OPW officials did not prioritise reciprocal access in this agreement, as it was not within organisational objectives to encourage people to visit other countries. The OPW recognises the value of relationships with international heritage partners and measures its activities and aims against the best examples available, accessing quality research to ensure excellent outcomes for Irish heritage. The continued investment by the State in our heritage portfolio is very important for the safeguarding and preservation of our built heritage.
The volume of English Heritage or Manx card holders to OPW-run sites, and the comparable average admission cost, is set out in tabular form below.
My officials review this data on an annual basis and any future decision- making on the matter will be set against the above considerations.
|
Year |
English |
Manx |
Total |
|
Average Adult price |
Average Comparable Admission Cost |
|
2015 |
|
|
5150 |
Combination of English and Manx Cards |
€4.00 |
€20,600.00 |
|
2016 |
|
|
5861 |
Combination of English and Manx Cards |
€4.00 |
€23,444.00 |
|
2017 |
|
|
7305 |
Combination of English and Manx Cards |
€4.00 |
€29,220.00 |
|
2018 |
|
|
8909 |
Combination of English and Manx Cards |
€4.00 |
€35,636.00 |
|
2019 |
|
|
7448 |
Combination of English and Manx Cards |
€4.00 |
€29,792.00 |
|
2020 |
|
|
464 |
Combination of English and Manx Cards |
€4.00 |
€1,856.00 |
|
2021 |
|
|
204 |
Combination of English and Manx Cards |
€4.00 |
€816.00 |
|
2022 |
|
|
4248 |
Combination of English and Manx Cards |
€4.00 |
€16,992.00 |
|
2023 |
6664 |
328 |
6992 |
Separate data for English and Manx Cards |
€4.00 |
€27,968.00 |
|
2024 |
2709 |
72 |
2781 |
Separate data for English and Manx Cards |
€4.00 |
€11,124.00 |
