Future of €8m pier still unclear

A LONG-AWAITED €8m pier planned for Cromane, Co Kerry, is in the hands of An Bord Pleanála.

The outcome of a planning hearing, to be held by the board in Killarney on August 13, will be crucial to the proposal.

Kerry County Council needs to acquire land for an access road to the pier site, but Bord Pleanála has received objections to compulsory purchase orders (CPO) being sought by the council for the access.

The council has already said the costs of an alternative route to the pier site would probably be too expensive and might not be funded.

For that reason, the pier is unlikely to go ahead if the Bord refuses to allow the council acquire the land by CPO.

The fishing village of Cromane, near Killorglin, has been looking for a new pier for generations, but the project has been bedeviled by obstacles.

The proposed pier has been a political issue in the last three general elections, during which promises were made that it would be provided.

Local disagreement regarding a site for the pier was resolved, but problems then arose in relation to acquiring land for an access road to the site.

Cromane is famous for its mussel and salmon fisheries, in which upwards of 100 people are employed, but local fishing interests claim the lack of proper landing and berthing facilities has hampered the growth of the industry.