Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is correct in that it is a priority for the Government to ensure the transfer happens as quickly as possible.

A huge amount of work has been done on this in the Department of Transport working with the Departments of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Housing, Local Government and Heritage to secure that transfer. I do not need to tell the Members that it is complex; they will be well aware of the transfer of lands, assets, issues around debt and so on. Engagement is ongoing between my Department and Clare County Council on this. I think they met last week. I have had conversations with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath on ensuring we get this over the line because this is critical for the future of these heritage sites.