A former Mayor of Clare says the county’s entire tourism sector could depend on the successful transfer of Shannon Heritage sites to the local authority.
It comes amid continued frustration at a lack of provision for State funding to facilitate the move.
Workers at Knappogue Castle, Cragaunowen and Bunratty Castle and Folk Park had widely expected funding to be made available in Budget 2023 for Clare County Council to take over its management from the Shannon Airport Group.
Negotiations between the two parties and several Government departments have been ongoing for months.
However, no such provision was made in the Budget, much to the annoyance of employees at the sites, who remain uncertain about their future.
The SIPTU union says workers are ‘devastated’ at the lack of progress, and has accused the Government of making ’empty promises’ on the matter.
Former Mayor of Clare and Sixmilebridge-based Councillor PJ Ryan says stalling the matter could have wider consequences for Clare’s tourism sector.
A Clare Independent TD remains hopeful the government will fund the transfer of the sites to the local authority despite the delays.
Scariff-based Independent TD Michael McNamara says the capital investment required for the transfer pales in comparison to the billions spent in the Budget and is hopeful the requirement can be met.
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