Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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75. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the engagement between his Department and groups (details supplied) on the closure of heritage sites in the mid-west. [14083/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The operation of the heritage sites referred to by the Deputy, is an operational matter for Shannon Heritage and its parent company Shannon Group plc. I have therefore forwarded your question to Shannon Group plc. for direct reply.

If the Deputy does not receive a reply from the Company within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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76. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received representations from a group (details supplied) in relation to seeking a PSO to allow heritage sites to remain open after 31 August 2020. [14084/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, Shannon Heritage is part of Shannon Group which operates in both the aviation and tourism sectors and in addition to the dramatic fall off in passengers at the airport, the closure and restricted re-opening of some Shannon Heritage sites means the impacts on the Group have been particularly severe. I would like to advise the Deputy that while I have not received specific representations from Shannon Heritage in relation to a PSO to allow heritage sites to remain open after 31 August 2020, my Department has received a request from Shannon Group for a range of government support measures to assist and enable Shannon Group, including Shannon Heritage, to help mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. My Department is considering these requests as part of a wider examination of the future viability and sustainability of the Group and will bring recommendations to government in this regard in due course. As the Deputy may be aware the operation of the Shannon heritage sites, including opening arrangements, is an operational matter for Shannon Heritage and its parent company Shannon Group plc.