Towns pool resources with an eye on future growth

A MAJOR development plan for Tralee and Killarney projects the population to grow from 35,000 to 45,000 between now and 2020, leading to a demand for 4,700 extra houses.

The two main Kerry towns are being linked together as the Kerry Hub under the National Spatial Strategy. The success of the plan depends on attracting a large number of new jobs to the area, Kerry county manager Martin Riordan stressed.

A key concern, however, is the delay in developing essential new road works, such as the Killarney/Farranfore road and the Tralee ring road.

Speaking at the launch of the Tralee and Killarney environs plan yesterday, Mr Riordan said the plan also aimed to provide campus-type business parks in each town.

He felt such parks would attract high-quality and high-tech enterprises and higher end ‘back office’ projects which might be interested in relocating to Kerry from Dublin, or Cork.

“I’m confident these business parks will succeed in Tralee and Killarney. We’re talking about mixed campus developments which could also includes hotels,” Mr Riordan said.

“We’re not going to get the population growth unless we get jobs. Input from Government agencies and job-creation agencies is vital in this regard. It is also crucial that the two linked towns work together, rather than competing.” He said Kerry’s peripherality was one of the key challenges facing the hub, which meant significant investment was needed in infrastructure.

Kerry mayor Ted Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil, said he was concerned about hold-ups in important road projects, which were ‘up in the air’ at present.

“I believe the Killarney/Farranfore road and the Tralee ring road will be major issues between now and the next election,” he said.

The plan also calls for a shuttle rail link between the towns.

Under the plan, Tralee will continue to be the administrative centre of Kerry, while Killarney will retain its standing as the premier tourist destination, with an attractive arts quarter.

Crucially, much of the impetus for delivering on the plan will rest with the private sector, with the cooperation of state and semi-state bodies.

Tralee and Killarney are just 18 miles apart and have, traditionally been competing towns.

But the plan is now calling for a “united and shared vision” so that each town can realise its potential into the future.

A marketing campaign to promote the Kerry Hub is to start in Dublin in December.

The plan will go on public display for six weeks, starting on November 8, and submissions are invited from the public.