Work on €6m pier set to tackle fishing port's erosion crisis

WORK on the building of a new pier in Cromane, a well-known fishing and seaside area of Co Kerry, could also help resolve an age-old erosion problem in the area.

Up to 100,000 tonnes of material are due to be excavated during construction of the €6 million project may be used to repair an embankment that will stave off the ravages of the sea.

"It now looks as if two of the biggest problems facing this area will be solved next year," said locally-based councillor Michael Cahill yesterday.

Senior executive engineer with the council Eamon Scanlon said they wanted to put the excavated material to good use. The sea defences at Glosha, Cromane, had fallen into disrepair and they hope the use the material to remedy the situation.

He also said some of the excavated material would be used to deal with ongoing coastal erosion problems at Rossbeigh, one of Kerry's most popular beach areas. The Cromane pier project is being undertaken jointly by the council and the Department of the Marine.

The council is due to lodge a planning application for the pier with An Bord Pleanála this week and, if permission comes through quickly, work could start on the site next March.

Kerry County Council has said it is severely short of money to deal with erosion in other parts of its indented coastline. This work could cost at least €20m.