Fishermen still waiting for pier first promised in 1997

A LONG-AWAITED pier for a mid-Kerry fishing village has still not been built three elections after it was first promised.

Mussel fishermen in Cromane, who have long lived in hope of getting proper landing facilities, heard commitments to provide a pier prior to the 1997 election. A site has been chosen at Crow’s Point, but serious difficulties have arisen in regard to getting land for an access road to the site.

Senior engineer Paul Stack told yesterday’s Kerry County Council meeting, in Tralee, that chances of getting the land by agreement were “slim” and it looked as if they would have to compulsorily acquire it.

“It’s disappointing, but it seems we must go down that road,” he stated.

Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Cahill proposed that the land be acquired by compulsory purchase order.

Mr Cahill said a number of other projects were depending on the €7 million pier going ahead. Such projects included protection work on an embankment and work to address coastal erosion at nearby Rossbeigh beach.

Up to 100,000 tonnes of material, to be excavated during the construction, would be used for coastal protection, he added.

A €500,000 grant was recently announced for Cromane pier and the Government has already given a commitment to provide money for the pier and the access road.