Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, for coming in here today. I am very grateful because I know he has a hectic schedule as a constituency Deputy and as a Minister of State. I do not have anything against him but I am not too happy that the line Minister is not here to answer my Topical Issue. For three consecutive weeks I have tabled this Topical Issue and I only got an email as I sat in my seat here to inform me that the line Minister is not available. I would have pulled my Topical Issue if I had known that earlier this morning. Notwithstanding that, I appreciate the Minister of State being here and I hope that we can cobble out a good outcome to all of this.

Last June, the Cabinet announced that sites run by Shannon Heritage in the mid-west would be transferred to local authorities, including Clare County Council. This announcement was warmly received and many in Clare felt immense hope that it would breathe new life into iconic tourism and heritage sites, such as Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen Bronze Age park. Following the Cabinet's decision, Clare County Council was instructed by the Government to commence discussions with Shannon Group on progressing this transfer. All parties, especially the Shannon Heritage workers who have hung onto their jobs by a thread throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, hoped that this process would wrap up in advance of the 2022 tourism season. Frustratingly, it has not.

The transfer of the sites is somewhat convoluted. At national level it requires a transfer of responsibilities from the Department of Transport to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I believe the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will also have a major function in this process, as will the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Clare County Council management has met several Ministers and has undertaken due diligence, which has been very extensive. This has encompassed the realms of operational, financial and business performance, technical due diligence to include property and asset surveys and also human resources.

The due diligence process exposed a number of problems, with one of the key ones being the poor structural state of many of the iconic buildings in Bunratty and Craggaunowen. The roof of Bunratty's 15th century castle is in a poor and dangerous state of repair, the thatched and cottage roofs are falling away and the once beautiful walled garden at Knappogue has been utterly neglected. Clare County Council is seeking a national funding commitment of €5 million per annum over three years. This funding request relates to operational costs, initial set-up and conservation and maintenance works. From the perspective of Clare County Council, the transfer of Shannon Heritage sites cannot be a financial burden on the county council's budgeting process and the provision of statutory provisions or impact negatively on Clare's ratepayers. As a result and in order to move forward, a nationally-funded financial package is required.

The current state of play, as I understand it, is that Clare County Council has met Department of Transport officials and is also engaging with the other associated Departments. An interdepartmental working group has been set up to consider the funding request. Representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media along with the Office of Public Works, OPW, have been invited to participate in this group, but no clear timeframe has been set regarding when it will conclude its work and report back to the Government.

I reiterate that everybody in the region wanted this to happen this summer. Clare County Council and Shannon Group must agree on a schedule and a transfer date to remove all ambiguity, particularly for the 140 workers whose morale has been very low given that this situation has dragged out and become quite a saga. I hope the Minister of State can give a glimmer of hope today that this will conclude, the funding will be provided and this can be a success.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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On behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Naughton, I welcome the opportunity to update the House on this topic.

As Members may be aware, Shannon Group informed the Department in summer 2020 that it was necessary to consider a comprehensive and radical adjustment to its structure to secure the long-term future of the business and its employees. A number of 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.Since the previous update given by the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to the House on the transfer of Shannon Heritage sites, King John's Castle successfully transferred to Limerick City and County Council on 4 April. Shannon Group and the council worked together with extensive preparation to ensure the successful transfer of the castle, and the Minister of State wishes to acknowledge this effort today.

The Shannon Heritage business of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Craggaunowen, Knappogue Castle and the Cliffs of Moher retail outlet remain to transfer to Clare County Council. I will provide an update on the progress of this transfer. Shannon Group is continuing to engage with Clare County Council on the transfer of the Shannon Heritage business and key sites. Officials in the Department of Transport met Clare County Council on 5 May and were provided with an update on the preparations for the transfer, in particular on the due diligence process under way in the council. The departmental officials met the council again last week to further discuss the work that remains to be done for the transfer to progress. As part of the due diligence process, the council identified a number of issues, including issues with funding both in the short term and in the long term to ensure the sustainability of the business.

The Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, has advised that she believes the most appropriate way to consider these funding requirements and to bring this matter to a successful conclusion is through the establishment of an interdepartmental working group comprising key stakeholders. The Department of Transport had previously engaged bilaterally with other Departments on the matter of the transfer. By bringing the relevant Departments and other stakeholders together through this group, the Department aims to comprehensively address the issues remaining for the successful transfer of the business and sites. Representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the OPW and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media have been invited to participate in this group. The group held its first meeting on 19 May and will meet again shortly. The agreement of the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform and Housing, Local Government and Heritage will be required to execute the transfer of the business and sites to the council. The Department of Transport is engaging with both Departments in this regard.

The Minister of State has also advised that she is continuing to engage with the OPW and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the conservation of Bunratty Castle. As the castle is a national monument, the OPW has responsibilities relating 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.

While all parties are working towards a successful transfer of the business and sites, until the transfer takes place it remains the responsibility of Shannon Group to operate and manage the Shannon Heritage business. This must be carried out in line with its commercial mandate, fiduciary best practice and with awareness of the group's accountability for the proper management of the company. Shannon Group had made the decision to close Bunratty Castle in September 2021 for the winter season. However, the extension of the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, enabled the site to remain open, although with reduced opening hours. The castle is now fully reopened for the summer season, which is welcome.

As previously outlined to the House, Covid-19 had a huge impact on all tourism and heritage sites from its onset in early 2020. However, there are grounds for optimism, including a welcome increase in visitor numbers, and we are hopeful that numbers will continue to increase significantly as 2022 progresses. I assure the Deputy that this Government will continue to support Shannon Group to ensure that the transfer of the Shannon Heritage business and heritage sites will proceed as planned.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, I reiterate that the Government recognises the importance of Shannon Heritage to the mid-west region. During the Covid-19 pandemic the Government showed its commitment to Shannon Heritage through the provision of supports, allowing the sites to remain open when restrictions permitted. Even with these supports, the impact of Covid-19 has been enormously challenging for Shannon Heritage, but I am advised that since the easing of public health restrictions, the increase in the number of visitors to heritage sites has been considerable. Almost 500,000 visitors visited Shannon Heritage sites in 2021, up from just over 300,000 in 2020. Although the sites were closed due to public health restrictions in the early months of 2021, these visitor numbers show a strong performance once restrictions were lifted.

This increase in visitor numbers will, hopefully, continue into 2022, particularly in light of the removal of all public health restrictions. There are welcome developments also in international travel with the increase in transatlantic flights. Given these positive signs we are hopeful that in 2022 the tourism and heritage sectors can begin to recover from the impacts of Covid-19.

As I mentioned, an interdepartmental working group has now been established to consider the funding requirements identified by Clare County Council and this work is ongoing. I understand this group will now meet regularly with a view to progressing the transfer of Shannon Heritage businesses and sites to Clare County Council as planned.