Agencies under fire for ignoring coastal erosion

STATE agencies yesterday came under fire for “totalling ignoring” worsening erosion at one of Kerry’s most popular beaches.

However, Kerry County Council was told the prospect of getting government money to do urgent remedial work, costing millions of euro at Rossbeigh was most unlikely.

Raising the issue, Fianna Fáil’s Michael Cahill said it was two years since the sand dunes had been breached at Rossbeigh, splitting the narrow peninsula and creating a new island. More than five million tonnes of sand and about 90 acres had been washed away, he added.

He claimed the OPW and the National Parks and Wildlife Service were completely ignoring the problem. Mr Cahill pleaded with the council to draft a management plan and carry out coast protection works.

“Successive governments have neglected Rossbeigh and we must make it a top priority,” he said.

The council’s director of roads and transportation Charlie O’Sullivan said it was a matter for the OPW and funding was the main issue. According to a council management report, the council has consulted a number of experts and a detailed study of erosion is being carried out by the Hydraulic and Maritime Research Centre, UCC.

But, the report noted, there was no ready remedy to the problem barring, possibly, an extensive ‘beach nourishment programme’ that would be extremely costly and would need to be undertaken at regular intervals.

The council is to send any remedial proposals to the OPW but, given current funding constraints, it is most unlikely the OPW would fund a project unless it could be proved workable and value for money, the report stated.

The council agreed to seek a meeting at government level on the issue.