Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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Dunguaire Castle is an iconic cultural and heritage landmark in Kinvara on the Wild Atlantic Way but it remains closed off to the public. That is a huge loss for Kinvara and south Galway as a whole in terms of tourism, heritage and employment. This loss is being felt as we enter the summer months. Dunguaire is a 16th century castle with great history, but it has been closed for two years. Huge numbers of tourists pass it in buses every day and while many will stop off, they cannot enter the castle. In the past, there would have been tours, banquets, performances and so on. The castle was a real asset and of significant benefit to the community. This is a real missed opportunity in terms of the castle itself but also for the village as a whole. The castle is right on the edge of the village and is within walking distance from there. Its closure is most definitely impacting on footfall in Kinvara.

Galway County Council has been in talks with the Shannon Group on acquiring the site but it needs Government funding to progress this purchase. It has estimated that it could cost in the region of millions of euro to bring the castle up to a safe standard. Significant remedial works are required to do that. The council's request for the necessary funding has not been granted. The council has been engaging with the Ministers responsible for local government and tourism, as have I.

They both said they do not have discretionary funding streams available to facilitate the purchase and necessary works. I have also raised this with the Minister of State responsible for the OPW, but he said he cannot direct the OPW to intervene and purchase the site because it is not designated as a national monument. These excuses are very frustrating for the local community, especially as it seems the castle will remain closed indefinitely, with no Department seemingly willing to take responsibility and allocate the necessary funding. Somebody has to take responsibility. The reality is that the if there is political will, the castle can be brought back into use.

Where is the Government commitment to the Wild Atlantic Way and towns and villages like Kinvara along the route, for which tourism is critical? Kinvara must not continue to be neglected, and Dunguaire must not be left closed indefinitely. While the funding required is significant, it should be seen as an investment rather than an expense, considering the spin-off benefits for the local community and the increases in tourist and employment numbers.

Can the Minister of State outline whether the Government decision not to provide funding to Galway County Council to acquire Dunguaire Castle to bring it up to a safe standard and ultimately reopen it to the public will be reconsidered?

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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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.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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The issue is not just the purchase of the castle but also bringing it up to a safe standard. As outlined, Galway County Council estimates that could cost millions of euro. The grant schemes the Minister of State has outlined, such as one offering €100,000, will not be sufficient for Galway County Council to acquire the castle and bring it back into use.

The Minister of State mentioned some of the Clare assets of the Shannon Group that were purchased by Clare County Council. Government funding of €6 million was provided at the time to facilitate the purchase of those assets. If the Government is prepared to do this for Clare County Council, why not Galway County Council? The Government needs to step up to the plate and ensure Dunguaire Castle is brought back into use. We are receiving excuses as to why this cannot happen, but something similar has happened before. That is the reality. The funding provided at the time was an acknowledgement of the importance of heritage sites like the one in question and the need to support the Wild Atlantic Way and villages like Kinvara.

Our local authority in Galway is cash-strapped. It is one of the worst-funded local authorities in the State as a result of consistent Government underfunding over many years. Our council is not in a position to take this on without Government support. It is very frustrating for us in Galway that we seem to be constantly neglected by the Government, particularly in this instance. Funding was provided to another local authority but not that in County Galway.

The castle is an iconic cultural and heritage landmark and a very popular tourist attraction along the Wild Atlantic Way. It must not be left closed for any longer. Will the Government recognise the importance of the site to the local community in terms of heritage, employment and tourism and provide the necessary funding to Galway County Council?

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. There is no question but that investment in our archaeological and built heritage delivers great benefits to the public through enhancing the character of an area. I acknowledge the representations the Deputy has made on this specific case.

As indicated, Shannon Airport Group operated Sharon Heritage on a commercial basis in line with its commercial mandate, meaning the sites were likely to open only on a seasonal basis. The Deputy referred to the transfer of four sites to Clare County Council, which did receive support through funding, but the Deputy must acknowledge that the transfer of four sites was exceptionally complex and involved the transfer of staff. St. John's Castle was transferred to Limerick City and County Council without any financial support from the Government. That is why I have outlined several schemes available to assist local authorities in maintaining and upgrading our built heritage assets. Those schemes are set out as I set out in my original remarks and I will be more than happy to work with Galway County Council regarding them, but there is a difference between providing funding to one site as opposed to four whose transfer was complex and involved the transfer of staff. I acknowledge the Deputy's representations on this matter.