*Bunratty Castle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A CLARE TD has said Shannon Airport Group should have to step up and help contribute financially to facilitate a transfer of Shannon Heritage sites to Clare County Council.
Clare County Council have insisted that it requires a Government funding package of €15m to take over Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Craggaunowen, Knappogue Castle, and Cliffs of Moher Retail Outlet.
This figure was outlined clearly to Government in a due diligence report submitted by the local authority in July. Before Christmas, the Council said they could not take on the responsibility for the sites in the absence of State funding.
Of the total figure, €1.5m is set aside for repairs to the roof of Bunratty Castle.
Shannon Airport Group have previously contested the amount of funding sought by the Council to progress the transfer.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Clare TD Joe Carey (FG) commented, “It is really unfortunate what workers have gone through. Shannon Heritage’s different sites weren’t really maintained under the Shannon Group”.
He felt the heritage sites were neglected under Shannon Group. “I think the Shannon Group need to realise that and play a more active role in resolving this issue. I think there is a role for the Department of Transport and Shannon Group with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the lead role, there has been so many false dawns on this, we need to provide adequate monies to respond to the request that has been submitted by Clare County Council.
“I’ve spoken at length on so many occasions with the Chief Executive Pat Dowling and with Minister Darragh O’Brien and trying to get the deal over the line, he is committed to doing that but maybe there is a role for someone independent of the process to bring the likes of the Shannon Group, the Department of Transport and the Department of Local Government to the table and give them the priority that this issue deserves because it is going on too long”.
With the involvement of “so many parties” in the transfer talks, the Clarecastle native suggested the appointment of an independent individual to get a deal done. Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) has previously recommended that Kieran Mulvey take on such a role, a suggestion he also made for difficulties in Doolin Coast Guard.
Deputy Carey said, “The bottom line is that these are key strategic heritage sites that are magnets to bring people into our region, they need to be marketed and resourced properly, the people working there have developed their skills over many years, they are in a state of limbo and have been for far too long. A solution has been provided by Clare County Council, they put their hand up and said ‘yeah we want to take these sites, we have a track record in delivering an iconic tourism site in the Cliffs of Moher, we run it really well’, they can do the same between Shannon Heritage sites and I think there would be a synergy between the two and I think that is acknowledged by Government.
“The Government and Shannon Group need to put their money where their mouth is on getting a deal over the line, possibly if an independent person was appointed and tasked with agreeing a deal with all stakeholders and bringing them all together, if all Departments and Shannon Group were to give a set of money I’m sure it could be resolved. The ask is €15m, €5m a year over three years, part of that will deal with capital works needed in Bunratty, there is serious works needed on the roof in particular, I think we need to be imaginative and try put together a deal so that the sites themselves and the people that work there can move on with certainty”.
