The Shannon Airport Group insists it has “done everything required” of them to facilitate the transfer of its three Clare heritage sites to the local authority.
It comes as workers at the sites are staging a walkout protest in Bunratty Castle & Folk Park this lunchtime at what they say is a lack of progress on the matter.
Negotiations between the Government, the local authority and Shannon Airport Group on the transfer remain at an impasse.
It’s after it was revealed earlier this week that both the Group and the Department of Transport ‘contest’ the funding figure Clare County Council says it needs to complete the process.
The Council in response insists it completed a detailed due diligence process on the sites, as it was requested to by Government, but that a funding package has yet to be forthcoming.
The local authority says the transfer can’t proceed without funding, and to do so would have a ‘significant impact on services and commercial businesses in Clare’.
The Shannon Airport Group meanwhile has told Clare FM this lunchtime that they “understand and empathise” with staff, and that they have “done everything required” of them to facilitate the transfer process.
They say they’re “await[ing] the outcome” of negotiations between Clare County Council and the Government.
Staff member Dolores Marren says they’re hopeful today’s action, which is a second walkout protest in the space of six weeks, will focus the minds of those at the negotiating table.
Employees in Bunratty, as well as Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen say their morale is at an all-time low, due to what they claim is the uncertainty the situation is putting them in ahead of the Christmas period.
Workers say they’re concerned about the first quarter of next year, when the sites are due to be closed for three days a week.
Staff member Caroline O’ Sullivan says the lack of clarity on the issue is impacting on their work.
Listen back to the full interview here:
