The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
IN the Dáil this week, Clare TD Michael McNamara called for progress on the transfer of Shannon Heritage to Clare County Council, claiming that the matter is being “bounced around Government Buildings.”
Addressing the Taoiseach on Tuesday, Deputy McNamara said, “The day Deputy Micheál Martin was elected as Taoiseach, I raised the issue of Shannon Heritage sites with him and the need to take them out of Shannon Group, which does not want them, and give them a new lease of life.
“I have raised it several times since. The last time, the Taoiseach said Clare County Council just needs to get on with it. I understand the council very much wants to get on with it but the proposal is being bounced around Government Buildings.
“At the moment, it is between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Transport and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Can the Taoiseach, as Head of Government, tell me when a decision will be made? If he cannot tell me today, will he tell me in writing before the Dáil rises?”
The Taoiseach said he would follow up on the request, while he stressed that the Government had favoured the transfer from the start.
“The Government made a decision to take Shannon Heritage out of Shannon Group. It was to go to local authorities.”
However, Deputy McNamara said that was some time ago, and there needs to be action now. “We are in the third tourism season since so there needs to be movement.”
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.
