New OPW minister checks out his office in Trim

The new Minister of State at the Department of Public Sector Reform and the Office of Public Works, Brian Hayes, TD, has taken up duty in the OPW and spent his first working day in the OPW Headquarters in Trim on Monday. The minister met with his OPW officials for the first time and was very impressed with the facilities and working environment in the new HQ, built in Trim as part of the previous government's ill-starred decentralisation project. Minister Hayes was given a tour of the building at Jonathan Swift Street, which provided him with an opportunity to meet with many of the staff. He has now been briefed on a number of occasions by his officials and said he is looking forward to engaging in the many aspects of OPW's areas of responsibility. He said he is looking forward to working in Trim as often as his Dáil and other official responsibilities will allow. While in the OPW headquarters, Minister Hayes met with Meath West TDs, Deputy Damien English and Deputy Ray Butler. Among the issues discussed was the opening hours of Trim Castle. Deputy Butler said local businesspeople had made representations to him looking for the castle to be opened for a longer period in the year to help boost tourism and business in the town. "We understand that it can't be open in the depths of winter but it should have been open for St Patrick's Day and the Celtic Festival. Trim Castle was closed for 124 days last year. It needs to be open earlier in the year. We have hotels employing 300 people and B&Bs and the castle needs to be open more," said Deputy Butler. He said Trim is known as a festival town and that the castle needs to be open for these festivals. "There is also the issue of accessibility when it is closed. If important people are coming to the town or groups want to view it, if enough notice is given, we should be able to make representations to the OPW to get it open," he added. He said the meeting had been very positive and that Minister Hayes wanted to send out the message that the OPW wants to work with the people of Trim and Meath. "Hopefully, we will get a favourable response. We are not expecting miracles, but it would be a help to tourism and local business if the castle was open more."