Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's response indicates that we are in the same position now as we were last August. At that time, the Government was prepared to allocate €2.4 million to ensure the continued operation of the sites in question. Only €700,000 of that has been drawn down, which brings us up to Christmas. What is the problem with allocating some more of that money now to keep those sites going from January until April, when they would usually open? Is it more desirable to lose continuity and have people sitting at home drawing social welfare rather than providing a service in King John's Castle, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and other sites? As I said, the treatment of these workers has been quite indefensible. They have been buffeted from pillar to post, with redundancy looming one day, followed by a reprieve. Now redundancy is looming for them once again. Can the Minister provide some solace for these workers as we approach Christmas?

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