€1m emergency funding expected for tourist route hit by landslide

FUNDING is expected to be made available almost immediately to repair a section of the damaged road on the scenic Slea Head Drive, which has been closed to traffic following a cliff collapse.

As tourism interests in the area clamoured for speedy action yesterday, both Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue and acting Kerry county manager Tom Curran said they were confident money would be forthcoming.

Mr Curran, who said the work would cost around €1m, revealed the plan was to re-align the road, near Dunquin, by moving it further inwards rather than rebuilding the damaged embankment. Land may have to be acquired from three different people and Mr Curran stressed theirgoodwill would be needed if the work is to progress quickly.

He stated: “If we got land tomorrow morning, we could have the road in place inside three months. We could even have a temporary road in a matter of weeks.”

Mr O’Donoghue saidhe had been in contactwith Environment Minister Dick Roche who had agreed the issue was an emergency.

He also felt funding may be sourced from the Dept of Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs.

Mr O’Donoghue added: “I’m confident funds will be available to carry out emergency repairs. This road is a vital link for tourism and I’m very conscious its closure could have devastating effects on businesses and ferry operators in the area.”

A section of a 150ft cliff between the road and the sea collapsed on Sunday evening, with hundreds of tonnes of earth and stone disappearing.

Blasket island ferry operator Mick Sheeran, who was finishing his day’s work at the time, told of hearing a ‘massive bang’ and of seeing a large part of the cliff tumbling into the sea.

He stated: “It was falling down like a demolition job, or the Twin Towers. A whole cliff just collapsed.

“’Two people were on top of the cliff at the time. One of them was taking photographs. Then there was a cracking sound and the two appeared to run back.”

The road itself did not collapse but has been left with a number of cracks measuring about an inch or an inch and a half.

Dingle Peninsula Tourism chairwoman Sheila Gorman said the importance of the Slea Head road could not be over-emphasised.

She called for proper signage to be put in place to inform people of diversions, saying there was already enough confusion about signs leading to Dingle arising from the name change controversy.

Mr Curran, meanwhile, briefed tourism and business interests in the SkelligHotel, Dingle, yesterday, about the road situation.