Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
261. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if there is a plan to allow children under 12 go free to visit OPW heritage sites (details supplied) from 1 July again this year; the number of child visitors each year since the introduction of this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48718/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for conserving, maintaining, operating and presenting Ireland’s national heritage estate.
The Free Admission for Under 12’s scheme is a permanent initiative that operates all year round and is designed to remove financial barriers to engagement with our national heritage.
Introduced in July 2017, the scheme provides for all children under the age of 12 to receive complimentary access to all fee-paying OPW heritage sites nationwide.
The Under 12 scheme operates alongside other initiatives, including discounted student rates, the family Heritage Card, and the “Free First Wednesday" initiative, which opens participating OPW sites to the public free of charge on the first Wednesday of every month.
The visitor data associated with the Under 12 initiative from 2017 to 2026 (to date) inclusive, is set out in tabular form below;
|
Year |
U12 Visitors |
|
|
2017 |
90,325 |
|
|
2018 |
150,232 |
|
|
2019 |
159,930 |
|
|
2020 |
25,316 |
* |
|
2021 |
18,783 |
* |
|
2022 |
125,107 |
|
|
2023 |
182,955 |
|
|
2024 |
193,961 |
|
|
2025 |
183,321 |
|
|
2026 to date |
67,090 |
|
* Please note that a reduced admissions model was in place in 2020 and 2021 arising from the prevailing Covid 19 restrictions at the time
