Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2022
16. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the way in which he proposes to support the transition of tourism sites under the auspices of Shannon Heritage to local authorities, including Clare County Council. [10178/22]
View answerHow does the Minister propose, through his Department, to support Clare County Council and other local authorities in the mid-west as they take over the running of the iconic Shannon Heritage sites in the region?
I thank Deputy Cathal Crowe for his question and for giving me the opportunity to discuss this matter. I assure the Deputy that I will continue to support Shannon Group in its engagement with the relevant local authorities to secure the future of the sites currently within Shannon Heritage. I advise the Deputy that Shannon Group continues to work with the relevant local authorities, including Clare County Council, to reach agreement on the transfer of Shannon Heritage sites and its business. My Department is engaging with Shannon Group, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure the smooth transfer of these sites. As the Deputy will be aware, the transfer of the sites is subject to agreement between the parties, completion of the required due diligence and the applicable consents of the Ministers for Transport and Public Expenditure and Reform. The agreement of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will also be required.
I also advise the Deputy that the Office of Public Works, OPW, has agreed to re-engage on its maintenance responsibilities and role in respect of the maintenance of Bunratty Castle and King John's Castle. In preparation for undertaking this role, the OPW has been carrying out the necessary assessments of both buildings to inform the programme of works needed and the associated costs. My Department continues to engage with the OPW in that regard.
I assure the Deputy that the Government acknowledges and appreciates the strategic importance of these heritage sites to the mid-west region and the country's tourism offering and the contribution they make to our built heritage. I understand that Bunratty Castle and King John's Castle are currently open on a four-day-week basis until March 2022. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that it is envisaged that those sites will reopen fully in April. I am also happy to report that, as the public health restrictions put in place due to Covid were eased in the second half of 2021, visitor numbers to Shannon Heritage sites have increased. With the removal of all the restrictions and the return of transatlantic flights into Shannon Airport this month, I am confident that visitor numbers to the sites will continue to grow.
The genesis of all this is a Cabinet decision taken in June 2021 that the sites would transfer from the Shannon Group, which always has its eyes on aviation and what happens in the skies. In recent years, however, it has also run the heritage portfolio in the mid-west. That has probably been a distraction, and Covid has exposed that. Everyone in the region wants this to be a success, but what we have seen since that decision was taken by the Cabinet is that the Shannon Heritage sites have slowly been run into the ground. Last Sunday I visited the tearooms, which were iconic. So many American tourists went in there for their Irish coffee and slices of apple tart. The roof of the building is falling in. It is being repaired. The thatch is falling off. It is the same with the roof of the castle, which is 800 years old. The castle has withstood sieges, fires and storms but its roof is now at risk of falling in.
While the Minister of State's response is welcome, it strikes me that too many cooks spoil the broth. We have the OPW, the Departments of Transport and Public Expenditure and Reform, local government and heritage organisations. There is a lot going on here, and a lot of line Ministries seem to be passing the matter on. The net loser will be Clare County Council because, at the end of May, it will take over these sites and it looks like there will be no subvention money coming. We would like to know if there will be subvention coming.
I reassure the Deputy that these sites are of critical importance and that work is ongoing. Because of the complexity of the matter and the need for due diligence, we do need the Ministers for Transport, Public Expenditure and Reform and Housing, Local Government and Heritage to sign off on this. Once the due diligence exercises are completed, the final business transfer agreements can be signed and all the necessary consents by the Ministers can proceed.
This is an extremely important transfer and everything is being done to ensure its success. There is a huge amount of engagement at Government level. It is a positive that all of Government is looking at the maintenance. The OPW's involvement is critical. It has expertise in conservation of historic heritage sites. We are working and engaging at every level to protect the staff as well. There are many different factors involved. I reassure the Deputy of the critical importance of these sites for the mid-west region. Work is happening on that at Shannon Group level and all Departments are also engaging.
I thank the Minister of State. I am reassured by the commitment but it needs to be backed up with subvention. Clare County Council wants to fulfil the wishes of Government and is fully engaged and committed to this. When it carried out due diligence, it revealed structural damage like cottage roofs falling in and the castle roof in poor repair, as well as umpteen things across the grounds of the folk park that could probably be deemed unsafe for people to go into. It is the same in Craggaunowen and Knappogue, where the beautiful walled gardens were not maintained and no longer exist. I recognise and appreciate the Minister of State's commitment but we also need a commitment in terms of funding. We are not sure what line Ministry that is coming from.
I am concerned for the 140 full-time workers. The supply chain is colossal. Things have been run into the ground and due diligence has thrown up many issues. We need to know where the funding is coming from and when it is coming in order that the May takeover and the summer season can both be successful.
I want to add to the case my Clare colleague made for Clare County Council and subvention for those sites. For Limerick City and County Council, taking on these sites is a new departure. The Minister of State and Department should support Limerick county council in every possible way as it hands over the iconic King John's Castle in the heart of Limerick city, which has vast potential. That potential will not be realised unless significant and solid support is given by the Department in the context of the handover of the site.
I thank Deputy Leddin for his query in respect of King John's Castle and Limerick City and County Council. Work and engagement is happening in relation to that site. The OPW work is important in the context of ascertaining the costs involved. We want to ensure that these sites are maintained and preserved. Funding issues are part of the conversations happening at the moment to ensure a smooth transfer.
I assure Deputies that my Department is liaising with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media because that feeds into heritage sites in the context of possible funding mechanisms. Deputies can be assured of our commitment in relation to that.
