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

I thank Deputy O’Donnell for giving me the opportunity to update the House on this topic. As Members are aware, Shannon Group informed my Department in summer 2020 that it was necessary to consider a comprehensive and radical adjustment to its structure. This was necessary due to the capital investment required to maintain the heritage sites and the lack of expertise in maintaining the sites in the group. This was further impacted by the onset of Covid-19. In 2021 several options were presented in a memorandum for Government, and the Government considered that the most appropriate option was for Shannon Group to explore the potential to transfer Shannon Heritage to the local authorities. It was considered that this was the best way to secure the longer term viability of the business and the interests of Shannon Heritage employees, while maintaining the intrinsic heritage value of the sites for current and future generations. Since that time Shannon Group has engaged and is continuing to engage with the relevant local authorities in regard to the transfer of the business of these key sites. This includes the transfer of King John's Castle to Limerick City and County Council. The agreement of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will be required to execute the transfer of the castle. My Department is engaging with both Departments in this regard.

I am also continuing to engage with the Office of Public Works, OPW, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in regard to the conservation of the castle. As the castle is a national monument, the OPW has responsibilities in regard to its conservation and maintenance. In preparation for undertaking this role, the OPW has been carrying out the necessary assessment of the castle to inform the programme of works needed and the associated costs. Shannon Group will continue to operate and manage the Shannon Heritage business prior to any transfer of King John's Castle to Limerick City and County Council. It will do so in line with its commercial mandate and fiduciary best practice, and with awareness of the group's accountability for the proper management of the company.

This Government implemented a range of horizontal economy-wide supports early in the Covid-19 pandemic. Shannon Heritage has benefited from these supports including the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS. The continuation of Government support to Shannon Group through the subsequent extension of EWSS enabled King John's Castle to remain open during the winter of 2021, and into the spring of this year. Although the castle operated with reduced opening hours during this time, EWSS support meant that Shannon Group did not have to close the castle completely in September 2021 for the winter season as had been previously indicated.

As we all know, Covid-19 has had a huge impact on all tourism and heritage sites since the beginning of the pandemic. However, there are grounds for optimism, as the Deputy highlighted, including a welcome increase in visitor numbers. I understand King John's Castle is currently open on a seven-day week basis, as the Deputy stated. My Department will continue to work with Shannon Group and the relevant Departments to ensure the transfer of King John's Castle will proceed as planned, placing it in a positive position to benefit from increased visitor numbers.

The Deputy made reference to the deadline of 4 April. I assure him there is ongoing engagement between my Department, the Department of Transport, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage around that funding gap and there are meetings. We have asked the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to engage with us to see what we can do to try to bridge that funding gap. Officials from my Department are meeting with their counterparts in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media today. We have had previous meetings. Fáilte Ireland will be present at that meeting in regard to looking at other funding sources. The priority is to ensure that this transfer proceeds as quickly as possible and that King John's Castle has the required funding to be viable into the future. The Deputy has my sincere commitment on that.

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