A Shannon Councillor believes the suggestion of a ‘meaningful’ offer being made by Government for the Council to take over local heritage sites is an ‘early April Fools Joke’.
It follows the claim made by Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe this week.
We’re just under three months away from April 1st, but one elected representative here has suggested Minister Donohoe appears to be celebrating early.
It follows the claim from the Public Expenditure Minister on yesterday’s Morning Focus.
Clare County Council had stated it needed 15 million euro in Government funding to add Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen to its tourism portfolio, following a due diligence report submitted on the sites last July.
However, Clare FM understands a drastically reduced funding offer from that figure was made to the local authority in late December.
Shannon-based Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn claims the funding on the table from Government to facilitate the transfer was ‘miniscule’.
Listen back to the full interview here:
While negotiations had been ongoing up until the offer was made, the local authority’s said it won’t take further part in the process until ‘real and meaningful’ support is committed to.
Killaloe-based Fianna Fail Councillor Tony O’ Brien says rate payers in Clare can’t be expected to bear the full cost of the deal.
