‘Providing services will help boost growth’

THE population of villages in north Kerry will continue to fall unless essential services, including sewage schemes, are provided, it was warned yesterday.

The decline continues despite trends to the contrary.

Tom Sheehy, senior planning engineer with Kerry County Council, said the challenge was to make these villages more attractive places to live and to provide services that would help boost population growth.

Fianna Fáil’s John Brassil said the capacity of such villages to develop was being curtailed because of the lack of water and sewage services, especially.

The issue arose during a debate over a settlements plan for the area.

As more people opt to live in one-off houses in the countryside, the viability of smaller towns and villages in north Kerry suffers, according to the plan. As a solution, the plan says houses should be affordable and there should be investment in roads, public transport, schools, shops and services.