Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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As always, the Minister of State is welcome.

This issue has been ongoing since the Shannon Airport Authority decided that it no longer had a strategic interest in Shannon Heritage. The questions then were what would happen to Shannon Heritage's facilities and under whose auspices would they be. King John's Castle has been transferred to Limerick City and County Council, which is a good fit.

In Clare, Shannon Heritage essentially comprises the Bunratty, Craggaunowen and Knappogue facilities, which have been visited by millions upon millions of tourists down the years. Sadly, Shannon Group's capital investment in the castles and various facilities that form part of Shannon Heritage's offering in County Clare has been practically non-existent over the past decade, if not longer. The facilities have depreciated, not just in monetary value, but in their value as tourism offerings. This is a great pity because we all remember visiting Bunratty Castle and Folk Park when we were children. Many also remember visiting Knappogue and Craggaunowen. These facilities should never have been allowed to deteriorate to their current level.

Clare County Council has stepped up to the plate and stated that it is interested in taking over and running the facilities in the same professional manner that it runs other facilities, for example, the Vandeleur walled garden in Kilrush and the Cliffs of Moher Experience in north Clare, but why should ratepayers and Clare County Council have to suffer financial loss for doing the right thing? It is accepted by all parties that the council is the right body to take over and develop these facilities. Ideally, the Office of Public Works, OPW, should be doing this. Given the council's tourism experience, though, this is a good fit and will complement the other attractions that the council is running successfully.

Some €15 million over three years is required, but that will only be the start of it. I understand that due diligence is still under way. This investment is necessary so that ratepayers and the council do not take a financial hit. We cannot compromise critical services that the local authority provides, for example, housing. If the council is expected to take over the facilities – it is happy to do so – then the Government needs to step up to the plate and provide the necessary financial resources to make this happen, allow it to be successful in the short term and make it sustainable into the future.

Some 150 people are working in the facilities. They deserve clarity, and only the Government can provide that clarity.The Government will be required to write the cheque to make it viable in the short term and sustainable into the future. I await the response of the Minister of State.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for his comprehensive introduction to the topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport. As advised by the Minister in February, the Government recognises that Shannon Heritage and its heritage sites are of significant importance not just to the mid-west region but also to Ireland's tourism offering and our historic, built heritage. Since the previous update, King John's Castle successfully transferred to Limerick City and County Council on 4 April 2022. I would like to acknowledge the extensive effort and preparation that Shannon Group and the council engaged in to bring this about.

I am also happy to provide a further update to the House today on the transfer of the Clare heritage site to which the Senator referred. Shannon Group continues to engage with Clare County Council regarding the transfer of the Shannon Heritage business and key sites. Department of Transport officials also met with Clare County Council officials last week and were provided with an update on the due diligence process under way in the council and the work that remains to be done. Shannon Group considers that the transfer of Shannon Heritage business and the Clare sites is the best way to secure the longer-term viability of the business and the interests of Shannon Heritage employees. It will also maintain the intrinsic heritage value of the sites in the mid-west for current and future generations. The transfer also fits in well with the County Clare Tourism Strategy 2030 and the considerable experience that Clare County Council has in operating its existing visitor attractions. Once the necessary due diligence work is complete for the sites, and final business transfer agreements signed, Shannon Group will seek the formal consent of the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to execute the transfer of the business and the relevant heritage sites. This will also be done with the agreement of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The Department of Transport has been engaging bilaterally with other Departments on the matter of the transfer. The Department recently established an interdepartmental working group, which I believe is the most appropriate way to now progress the matter effectively, consider the funding requirements and bring this matter to a successful conclusion. Representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Public Expenditure and Reform and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media, and the OPW have been invited to participate in this group. The OPW has agreed to re-engage on its maintenance responsibilities in the conservation and maintenance role of Bunratty Castle and King John’s Castle. In preparation for undertaking this role, the OPW has been carrying out necessary assessments of both buildings to inform the programme of works needed and the associated costs. The Department of Transport is continuing to engage with the OPW in this regard. Before any transfer is executed, it remains the responsibility of Shannon Group to operate and manage the Shannon Heritage business 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. While Shannon Group was due to close Bunratty Castle and King John’s Castle in September 2021 for the winter season, the continuation of Government supports meant that the sites could remain open, although with reduced opening hours. I understand that the castles are fully reopened for the summer season, which is welcome.

Despite the ongoing impact of Covid-19, I am happy to inform the Senator that there were some positive developments last year. Almost 500,000 people visited the Shannon Heritage sites in 2021 representing a 64.2% increase on the 2020 visitor numbers. The recent resumption of transatlantic flights at Shannon Airport also presents an opportunity to welcome back international tourists to the sites over the coming months, which is most welcome. I am confident that this represents a turning point, and that we will see a further increase in international visitors this year, which will be welcomed as a positive development, no doubt by the Senator as well.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to take this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I accept people's bona fides in this. I accept the fact that there is an interdepartmental working group, which is absolutely the correct way to go about this, but there is a bottom line, which is that the taking over of the Shannon Heritage sites in County Clare cannot result in a negative financial impact on Clare County Council.The council executive will not tolerate it and, certainly, the members of Clare County Council will not tolerate it. I can absolutely guarantee that the ratepayers of Clare will not tolerate it. That is the bottom line. Beyond that, engagement will have to happen in terms of a significant capital investment in the future, which will include significant borrowing because of the audiovisual and all that is on offer in other facilities. We need to ensure that there is capital investment to protect the buildings in the first instance, but then improve the offering that is available to tourists. Tourists now are much more discerning and absolutely will be much more demanding in the visitor experience they would want. I welcome the Minister of State’s reply. I know it is ongoing, but for the sake of everybody, particularly the staff who are working, clarity is needed. Perhaps in the Minister of State's supplementary reply he might be able to tell me if there is a timeframe and time limit set for this working group to come back with its recommendations.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To reiterate, there is a commitment at Government level to protect the future of the Shannon Heritage sites. That is why there has been the establishment of the interdepartmental working group that can work through the issues that the Senator has so articulately raised. Unfortunately, I do not have a timeframe because it is not my area of responsibility. However, I will give the Senator a commitment that I will bring back the points that he has raised on the floor of the Seanad to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and ensure that he is aware of those valid points. I will ask the Minister to reply to the Senator directly in terms of the timeframe. I can understand that this time of uncertainty creates anxiousness and concerns in the community. We need to bring that uncertainty to a conclusion very quickly. I will look for the completion date to reported back to the Senator as soon as possible.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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We are now waiting for the arrival of the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke. I propose that we suspend proceedings until the conclusion of the division in the Dáil. Is that agreed? Agreed.