A Clare Independent TD is labelling the Government as ‘weak’ in their involvement in the transfer of the management of Shannon Heritage sites.
There are suggestions that land as well as money should be brought into the equation for a package to facilitate the transfer.
The Shannon Airport Group and the Department of Transport remain in disagreement with the Council over what the final figure on the funding package should be.
Senior Ministers had spoken of their ‘hope’ of an agreement being reached before the end of this year in recent months, though that hope appears to be fading fast.
Clare County Council’s confirmed to elected members that it has yet to receive any commitment to funding from the Government, despite submitting a 600-page due diligence report on the prospective transfer in the summer, after the Government themselves had requested it.
A Clare Government Senator is calling for ‘heads to get around the table’ to bring the matter to a head.
Mountshannon-based Fianna Fail Senator Timmy Dooley says ‘failure can’t be contemplated’ in the process, despite the hiccups it’s now experiencing.
Meanwhile, a Clare Independent TD believes the question of assets should be raised in the context of the negotiations, as well as financial aid.
The Council says the transfer can’t proceed without funding, and to do so would have a ‘significant impact on services and commercial businesses in Clare’.
Scariff-based Independent Deputy Michael McNamara says a longer term view needs to be taken.
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