The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has come under fire after an impatient response when quizzed about the future transfer of Shannon Heritage properties to Clare County Council.
Responding to questions from Deputy Michael McNamara, the Taoiseach said if the council wanted to take over the sites, they should just get on with it.
A due diligence process regarding the transfer of the assets, (including Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen) began last summer, but with the 2022 tourist season approaching, it still has not been concluded.
It is understood that Clare County Council is looking for a commitment that it will receive around €9 million in capital funding over a few years if it takes over the assets, with significant improvement and maintenance works set to be required in the coming years.
Clare TD Michael McNamara raised the future of sites with the Taoiseach on Tuesday, asking him for a commitment to provide Clare County Council with the backing it needs.
“I wish to raise the issue of Shannon Heritage Properties with the Taoiseach. I have raised it many times before.
“A due diligence process is in place now for Clare County Council to effectively take over the Clare properties, as I am sure the Taoiseach is aware. Key to that is capital funding.
“Clare County Council has limited sources of revenue; namely, local property tax and rates. Nobody is going to thank it if it raises local property tax and rates in order to put a roof on a castle, for example. There will be funding required to ensure these properties are in a good state. Will the Taoiseach undertake to provide that funding?”
However the Taoiseach, clearly impatient, first of all answered the McNamara question with one of his own.
“Look, the council wants to take this over, does it not?” When Mr McNamara replied that it did, the Taoiseach shot back saying “So they should get on with it”, which was his only comment.
It was quite dismissive of the issue which the Scariff man had asked him to address, and afterwards Mr McNamara said he had been surprised by the Taoiseach’s attitude.
The future of key tourism sites in the Mid-West and those who rely on them for employment, either directly or indirectly, deserve more than the flippant attitude shown by the Taoiseach in the Dáil today. pic.twitter.com/rFBGNbfne9
— Michael McNamara TD (@MlMcNamaraTD) February 8, 2022
“I spoke to him about it privately several times and I raised it with him in the Dáil several times. I was always given to believe he understood the significance of these sites for tourism in the Mid West and for Clare in particular, so I was a bit taken aback by his flippant attitude today when I raised it with him.”
He said that action is needed sooner rather than later.
“The sites have been left linger really, they’re left rudderless without any particular commercial or strategic direction and some needs to be brought to bear urgently.
“The sites have also been allowed to deteriorate and the more they’re allowed to deteriorate the more money it’s going to take to bring them back.
“We’re now in February and unless something is done soon we’re going to lose another tourist season and another season of potential revenue, with the sites deteriorating further again.”
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
