Council approves funds for Cork-Swansea ferry
However, Kerry councillors, who had already invested €100,000 in getting the service into operation in March 2010, warned any future investment would need to be considered closely.
Fine Gael councillor Pat McCarthy questioned how many local west Cork people were employed directly on the ferry, the MV Julia — saying he understood it was mostly serviced by east Europeans.
The ferry is owned by the Fastnet Line, a subsidiary of the West Cork Tourism Co-operative Society which is currently in examinership.
The review of the Fastnet company’s affairs during the 100-day period of the examinership will ensure its survival, a meeting in Tralee was told.
County manager Tom Curran, who recommended the payment, said Aer Arann had also gone into examinership and had come out the other end.
Councillors said the ferry had brought much needed British business to the south-west last summer.
For the period of examinership, the company required €300,000 and half of this was to come from the area’s local authorities, including councils in Cork city and county.
Kerry’s contribution would be €20,000, Mr Curran said.
To date, the three councils have invested €700,000. In this tranche, the three councils would contribute €150,000 in costs arising from examinership.
Cllr John Brassil (FF) said there was only a finite amount of money available and, going forward, any further investment would have to be questioned.
