Sinn Féin Representatives for Clare have expressed concern following the news that just €600,000 of the promised €2.6m funding for Shannon Heritage will be forthcoming.

Speaking this morning, Teachta Violet-Anne Wynne said:

“I have been informed by staff at Shannon Heritage that, following a meeting between the Shannon Group management and the Unions that only €600,000 of the promised funding for the Heritage sites will be forthcoming from Government. That is just 23% of what was granted.

“It has been said to me that this information was given to the Shannon Group a number of weeks back, but it is just breaking now.

“There was joy and relief just 6 weeks ago when this funding was announced, and now it feels like the rug has been pulled from under the workers again.

“I will be writing to the Minister and to the Shannon Group Management to seek urgent clarity on this matter, and to find out what this means for the sites and the staff that work there”.

Cllr. Donna McGettigan continued:

“I have taken a number of calls this morning from very distressed workers in the sites, who are again extremely concerned with this news.

“They were given reassurances at the end of August that their jobs would be safe until January and until the review into the Shannon Group has been finished by the Minister.

“But this news this morning has come as a shock to many and we need answers on what exactly this will mean for the sites and the workers and their families”. 

“This is yet another let down for hard working people.

“We will not stand by and allow this unfair treatment of workers continue.

“The workers in Shannon Heritage fought hard over the summer months to ensure this funding was secured in the first place, and we have no doubt that they will stand up against this news to ensure their jobs are protected.

“Again, this shows the need for the review into the Shannon Group to be completed without delay.”