John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien.

As members may be aware, Shannon Airport Group informed the Department in summer 2020 that it was necessary to consider a comprehensive and radical adjustment of its structure to secure the long-term future of the Shannon Heritage business and employees. Several challenges had arisen, including the lack of expertise in maintaining the sites in the group, the capital investment required to maintain the heritage sites and the impact of the onset of Covid-19. Subsequently, Shannon Airport Group engaged extensively with the relevant local authorities on the transfer of sites and the business. King John's Castle was successfully transferred to Limerick City and County Council in April 2022 and the Shannon Heritage business and four sites in County Clare were transferred to Clare County Council in May 2023.

Dunguaire Castle is the only remaining site under the ownership of Shannon Airport Group. The Minister understands that Galway County Council has engaged with the group on the possible transfer. The Minister, Deputy Browne, has informed the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, that the national monument service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage received a funding request from Galway County Council in November 2024 in relation to the castle. He understands that in response to this request, the National Monuments Service wrote to the CEO of Galway County Council in December 2024 advising that a voted funding stream to facilitate the purchase of heritage sites by local authorities is not available. However, he is aware that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage funds a range of relevant grant streams intended to support local authorities and other owners in respect of the repair and conservation of archaeological and built heritage sites.

Where the structures concerned are protected or are within a designated architectural conservation area, the built heritage investment scheme and the historic structures fund can provide support for the repair and conservation work. The built heritage investment scheme provides grants of between €2,500 and €50,000, while the historic structures fund offers funding of between €50,000 and €200,000 for works on a larger scale. Where the structure is an archaeological monument, the community monuments fund can provide grants of up to €100,000 for conservation works, where eligible. In 2025, the community monuments fund awarded 122 projects €7.5 million in funding.

All of these grants help owners and the custodians of archaeological monuments and built heritage assets alike to safeguard them into the future. In recent years, these conservation schemes have allocated in excess of €50 million for works on archaeological monuments, historic buildings and the public realm, which is a testament to the dedicated and hard work of all involved, including local authorities, community groups, private owners, the professional heritage sector and officials within the Department, to ensure the ongoing protection, conservation and maintenance of our heritage assets.

In addition to the aforementioned conservation schemes, local authorities seeking funding should, depending on the exact nature and circumstances of the structures and buildings in question, engage with the urban regeneration and development fund, the rural regeneration and development fund, the LEADER programme or Údarás na Gaeltachta funding schemes.

See this speech in context