Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Minister of State's reply. The problem for everyone in County Clare at present is that this is very much in a state of flux. When the Government announced that these were going to be transferred to Clare County Council, it was like the announcement of a divorce or a relationship split. Immediately, Shannon Group took its eye of interest off the Shannon Heritage sites. They have been neglected. I do not mind saying that here because that is the sad reality. The roof of the iconic 15th century castle is in a poor state of repair. The castle has withstood siege and fire, but it will have to close at some point to undergo essential repairs.

The county council just needs a timeframe. There are 140 employees and they are hanging onto this with bated breath. They have had the uncertainty of the pandemic and now they have the uncertainty relating to the transfer. Last week, I met the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, to find out where everything stood. It has not yet reached his desk and, for me, that means the sign-off of the financial aspect of it has not yet gone before the Department. What may be the problem here is that there are a number of Departments involved - the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Transport, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - and I am sure each Minister does not want to take a €15 million hit to his or her budget. However, if we break it down, what Clare County Council is asking for is €5 million per year over three years. If we break it down further, perhaps, each of the four Departments could fund €1.25 million each in this first year. That would allow this to happen successfully.

The entire region depends on this and I see the split from Shannon Group as positive. It allows Clare County Council, which has a proven and successful track record of running tourism sites, such as the Cliffs of Moher, to take the helm, brings certainty for workers and brings tourism back to the region. However, all this requires a pathway and a plan. It is great to hear that interdepartmental meetings are taking place, but we need a timeframe and to know that the end game for which everybody is aiming is to fund this, make it happen and see it become a reality.

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