Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
341. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to provide funding for transfer of an entity (details supplied); the level of engagement that he and his Department have had with the company being transferred and with the local authority; the amount of funding sought by the local authority from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50267/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Transport, as the parent Department of the Shannon Group, have the lead role in the transfer of heritage sites from Shannon Group to relevant local authorities. In order to secure the future of the heritage assets and employees, Shannon Group has had extensive engagement with the relevant local authorities since early 2021. Shannon Heritage ended their management contracts with An Post and Fingal County Council for sites in Dublin on 31 December 2021 and the transfer of the business and employees took place without issue. King John’s Castle was successfully transferred to Limerick City and County Council on 4 April.
Shannon Group continues to engage with Clare County Council in relation to the proposed transfer of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Craggaunowen, Knappogue Castle, and Cliffs of Moher Retail Outlet. As part of its engagement with Shannon Group, Clare County Council identified a funding gap for which it sought Government assistance to enable it to take over the sites. The funding gap identified by Clare County Council is €15m (€5m a year for 3 years), the quantum of which may be adjusted downwards partly due to the better than projected performance of visitor numbers to Bunratty Castle in 2022.
The Department of Transport established an inter-departmental working group in May 2022 to examine funding options in relation to the proposed transfer to Clare County Council of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Craggaunowen, Knappogue Castle, and Cliffs of Moher Retail Outlet. The group includes officials from the Departments of Transport, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Public expenditure and Reform, the Office of Public Works, and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media. To date, the working group has met three times, and identified a number of ways to support a transfer. The Department of Transport has also met with Clare County Council and Shannon Airport Group and has asked both to continue their engagement and consider the package of measures identified by the inter-departmental working group, with a view to reaching agreement on a transfer.
Officials from my Department have met officials from Clare County Council on a number of occasions over the past 12 months in relation to the proposed transfer, the latest meeting was in July of this year. At this meeting my Department recognised the current financial environment in which local authorities are operating, and the pressures facing them in respect of general inflation and higher energy costs in particular. These challenges are common across the sector and my Department highlighted its wider responsibility to ensure that all local authorities can continue to deliver services, whilst managing limited resources.
It was also noted that Clare County Council were in receipt of support from the Local Government Fund of almost €3m in 2021 and 2022 to compensate for loss of commercial rates at Money Point Power Plant and that my Department would seek similar support for Clare County Council for 2023. Across all schemes and funding sources my Department provided €65.9m in 2020, €82.9m in 2021 and €24m to end August 2022 to Clare County Council. Included in this is the unprecedented level of support provided by central Government to local authorities in respect of the COVID -19 pandemic.
Officials from my Department have liaised with Clare County Council regarding the potential for some support from the Local Government Fund towards the year end. Equally, subject to submission of a suitable proposal and costings, funding towards National Monuments service approved conservation works at Bunratty Castle could be considered by the Heritage Division of my Department.
Officials from my Department will continue to engage with the inter-departmental working group and Clare County Council to support progress in the transfer of the remaining Shannon Heritage sites to Clare County Council.
