Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last June, Cabinet signed off on a proposal to transfer Shannon Heritage sites to local authorities. Clare County Council is currently undertaking due diligence on the transfer of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Knappogue Castle, Craggaunowen and a retail outlet at the Cliffs of Moher. The due diligence is extensive but it has thrown up the matter of the incredible costs involved in taking over these sites. The thatch is falling off the roofs in Bunratty, as I have seen myself. The roof of the iconic castle, which has withstood sieges and countless attacks, is also at risk of falling in. Operational subvention will be needed and an application has been made to the Government for €3 million or thereabouts per annum. I ask the Taoiseach to look favourably on it. We want to see these sites in Clare taken over but it cannot be done at the expense of the public coffers and potentially sinking the local authority's finances. Some subvention will be needed.

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