Setback for €6m Doolin pier plan

CLARE Co Council has received a setback in its plans to construct a €6 million pier at Doolin.

The local authority will have to re-lodge plans for a foreshore licence with the Department of Environment.

Last month, in the face of opposition from surfers, councillors unanimously gave their approval for the pier which is to act as a gateway for ferries to the Aran Islands.

Surfers warned waves will be destroyed by the construction of the pier.

However, objectors will have a further chance to block the plan as a foreshore licence must be secured.

The council first lodged a foreshore licence last summer but has now submitted a revised application.

According to a spokesman for the Department of the Environment, “the application is now the subject of consultations with marine specialist advisors, both within and outside the department”.

On instruction from the department, the council has advertised the application to the public which has until April 21 in which to make submissions.

A spokesman said: “While there is currently no statutory timeline attaching to the making of foreshore licensing decisions, the department will ensure the application is determined as soon as possible; further information may be required arising from consultations on the application.

He added: “In August 2010 the department had requested a wave modelling study be carried out to investigate the likely impact of a new pier on local wave patterns.

“This study has been completed and submitted together with the revised foreshore application,” he said.

Meanwhile, council official Tom Tiernan, who heads the project, said: “The application is practically the same as the one submitted in mid-2010.”

He remained confident, however, construction work will commence this year.