Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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120. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the additional funding for Bunratty Folk Park, part of Shannon Heritage and under the Shannon Group, will go ahead as previously planned; the length of time that funding is expected to last; if the amenity will be able to return to full functionality once the current Covid-19 restrictions are lifted; if Shannon Heritage will remain part of the Shannon Group and remain under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3879/21]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Bunratty Folk Park, County Clare will remain closed until Easter 2021; if the folk park will resume operations on a full-time basis when it reopens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3900/21]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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123. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to move the remit of Shannon Heritage to another Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3901/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 122 and 123 together.

I would like to thank the Deputies for their questions on Shannon Heritage.

At the outset it should be noted that Shannon Group, which is responsible for the operation of Shannon Heritage is a commercial State Body operating in accordance with a commercial mandate.

Because of the importance of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and King John's Castle to their local economy, from both a tourism and jobs perspective, a commitment was made last year to provide Exchequer funding to meet the incremental costs of keeping these attractions open to the end of 2020. The sites had been due to close at the end of August, 2020 becasue of the impact of COVID 19 on the number of visitors. As it transpired, since that commitment was given, new restrictions introduced to control COVID-19 meant that the sites could not open for all of this period, thereby reducing the incremental costs referred to above.

In compliance with State aid rules, funding on an exceptional basis was provided to Shannon Heritage at the end of December to cover the incremental costs incurred when the sites were open. The funding provided is in addition to the economy-wide supports Government has put in place including the TWSS, EWSS, the recently extended rates waiver and CRSS, all of which have been availed of by Shannon Heritage.

Budget 2021 reflected Government’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding Ireland’s strategic heritage sites and a €55m Recovery and Resilience Scheme for strategically important tourism enterprises was announced. Shannon Heritage is exploring the potential for funding under this Scheme. I also understand that Shannon Group has applied for funding from Fáilte Ireland under its large capital grants scheme for the redevelopment of the Bunratty Folk Park.

The position in relation to the opening of Shannon Heritage sites in 2021 is a matter for Shannon Group. In this regard, Shannon Group has advised my Department that given the impacts of COVID-19 (lack of international traffic, low level of domestic visitors) and the resultant significant losses, it is not viable to keep the heritage sites open this year in line with its pre-COVID-19 operating model. Government was recently informed that, in order to mitigate the losses incurred, Shannon Heritage has made a decision to operate on a seasonal basis.

In relation to the future of the Shannon Heritage business, options to secure the future of Shannon Heritage are currently being considered but no decision has yet been taken in this regard.