Minister of State for Public Reform Brian Hayes has said the funding model for Ireland’s heritage sites has to change.
He said he has invited proposals from the private sector to provide a range of facilities on historic sites across the country.
Mr Hayes said there has been a dramatic cut in funding for the sites but visitor numbers are increasing.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Hayes said there is a need to find creative ways to increase funding.
He said he did not know how successful the scheme would be but there is an opportunity to develop jobs and investment opportunities through public and private partnerships.
The minister said that it was not about "putting a casino on Skellig Michael" but where there is significant footfall on some Office of Public Work sites, "the private sector might come onto that site, invest some capital and then operate that facility".
Mr Hayes said he has arranged an agreement with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin that where the OPW business grows, the revenue created can be kept to help encourage growth in other smaller heritage sites.
He said: "It's not just about the top ten sites that everybody knows, Kilmainham Gaol, Kilkenny Castle, the Rock of Cashel all these places.
"It's also about encouraging investment into other secondary sites that aren't as well known which may not be on the tourist route or the tourist map."
