For the third time this year, I rise to bring attention to the continued closure of Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara. For those who are not familiar with Dunguaire, it is a tower house located by the roadside on the edge of Kinvara Bay, which is on the Wild Atlantic Way. It is the most photographed castle in Ireland. For the past three tourist seasons, Dunguaire Castle has remained closed. This has had knock-on consequences for the local tourism sector and businesses.

Until now, Dunguaire Castle was under the ownership of the semi-State company, the Shannon Group. When the Shannon Group set about exiting its involvement in the tourism infrastructure sector, St. John's Castle and Bunratty Castle were handed over to the relevant local authorities in Limerick and Clare. However, ownership of Dungaire Castle has not yet been handed over to Galway County Council,. As a result, it has remained closed to the public. Galway County Council has made a request to the Department of tourism for funding to bring the castle and its surrounding areas up to standard before it takes ownership.

That has not yet happened. I am here again today to call on the Minister for tourism to, as a matter of urgency and before the end of this year, facilitate a meeting with Fáilte Ireland, local elected representatives and Oireachtas Members from the area to discuss the provision of funding required by Galway County Council to take this important piece of historic and tourism infrastructure under the local authority's charge. I recognise my colleague Councillor Paul Killilea, the councillor in the area, for all the work he has done on this issue.