State on verge of closing Blasket buy

OWNERS of the historic Great Blasket island in Kerry are understood to be on the brink of a purchase agreement with the Government, though the granting of planning permission for development on the island is still a key issue.

The long-term plan is to have the island, famous for its writers, designated as a World Heritage Park.

The buyout is expected to be worth in the region of €1.7 million and the overall plan is estimated to cost €8.5m to implement.

The Government has been trying to complete the purchase for up to a decade but the process has been plagued by difficulties, including rights of access to the island, landing rights for visitors and the possibility of building holiday homes and other developments.

Negotiations have been conducted on an on-off basis for a number of years and, it was learnt yesterday, agreement to purchase will hinge on landowners securing planning to develop some of their property.

Holiday homes and camping sites are not allowed in the Kerry County Development Plan but toilets, an information centre and catering facilities can be provided.

Following a meeting between the main landowners in the past week, An Blascaod Mór Teo and the Office of Public Works (OPW), new contracts were issued to the landowners.

Blascaod Mór Teo, which owns 17 of the 25 holdings on the island, has been represented by solicitor Peter Callery in the negotiations.

The company has been operating a ferry service between Dingle and the Great Blasket, also a controversial issue. Other ferry operators have indicated they will object if Mr Callery’s company is given exclusive rights to land visitors on the island

Evacuated in 1953, the Great Blasket remains uninhabited, but is open to visitors who make the journey from the mainland on ferries from Dingle and Dunquin. Under a plan for the future of the island, visitor numbers will be limited to conserve the island as much as it looks today.

The village has long since been in ruins and will not be restored.

The FF/PD government announced in 2005 that funding had been made available for the purchase.

Work was due to start last year, but was delayed as agreement on purchase terms had not been reached.