Pier pressure seals €10k deal to watch Kinsale local

ONE thing the state can’t be accused of is letting down the seal population.

It’s been described as “bureaucracy gone mad” — but the taxpayer will have to fork out €10,000 to ensure a seal isn’t distressed by work to a harbour wall.

It has also emerged that work will be immediately suspended on repairing a major hole underneath the pier in Kinsale if the seal swims too close.

Kinsale Harbour Commissioners have been directed to employ a MMO (marine mammal observer) to keep watch on the seal, which is believed to be the sole member of its species inhabiting the town’s inner harbour.

Cllr Alan Coleman, a director of the Port of Cork and member of the Kinsale port board, said he was “shocked, surprised and bemused” when told of the order, which was issued by the Department of the Environment to the Parks & Wildlife Service on foot of the EU Habitats Directive.

“It’s estimated the MMO will have to watch the seal for 40 days while the work goes on. But if the seal comes in too close to works underwater they will have to stop,” Mr Coleman said.

A section of the pier near the Trident Hotel is in danger of collapsing as part of the underwater structure has a hole in it the size of a family car.

The cash-strapped harbour board received a €500,000 grant for repairs from the Department of Transport. Mr Coleman said the harbour board simply didn’t have €10,000 to spare for the MMO and was asking the department to also pay for his services.

It also emerged that a large proportion of the country’s natterjack toad population is soon to be subject to a state-sponsored surveillance operation.

The two-year long monitoring scheme — to commence next month — is being led by the Department of the Environment’s National Parks and Wildlife Service in response to the natterjack toads having a conservation status categorised as ‘bad’ in Ireland.