Pressure on to build new pier

AMID growing concern about the safety of passengers travelling to Great Blasket island, pressure is being stepped up for the building of a long-awaited new pier in Dunquin.

At present, passengers must get into a rubber dingy before boarding ferries for the five-kilometre crossing from Dunquin to the Blaskets.

Local tourism interests and ferry operators are calling on Kerry County Council to start work on extending the pier.

New piers for Dunquin and Great Blasket are part of an €8 million State-funded plan to develop the island as a national historic park.

Ferry operator Michael Sheerin said issues about the purchase of land on Great Blasket should not delay work on the pier in Dunquin. Landing can sometimes be difficult on the island itself and no work has been carried out on the pier since inhabitants left more than 50 years ago.

A Kerry County Council spokesperson said they hoped to begin construction on the piers in spring of 2007, adding that progress was being made.