Survey of sand dunes ‘not feasible’

A requested safety survey of Kerry’s 80km of sand dunes cannot be carried out.

The Office of Public Works and Kerry County Council have been urged to undertake the survey following the death of a 19-year-old Cork student in a freak dune accident in the Maharees, Castlegregory, last month.

The call was made by county councillors Michael Cahill and Brendan Cronin, who also asked that warning signs be placed in danger areas which should be fenced off.

They further proposed the council and OPW consider dune protection works to help prevent a repeat of the tragic death of Niamh McCarthy, of Minane Bridge, Co Cork.

However, senior council management said it would not be feasible to carry out a survey of all sand dune areas in Kerry.

“The vast area of sand dunes are stable and not prone to sudden movements,” said a council spokesman.

“However, sand dunes by their nature are fluid and, as a result of the forces of nature, they can sometime shift and are subject to wind and coastal erosion.”

The council has extended its sympathy to Ms McCarthy’s family and the circumstances of the accident are still under investigation.

The area where the accident occurred has been cordoned off and warning signs have been placed there.

The tragedy also prompted a call for the re-establishment of an all-volunteer fire brigade in the Castlegregory area which was stood down last year.

However, the council explained that the Munster Regional Control Centre, which handles emergency service callouts, mobilises the most appropriately located, retained fire brigade units rather than volunteer units to deal with incidents.

A spokesman said the control centre had never called or mobilised any volunteer squad, such as Castlegregory, to deal with an incident in Kerry.

He also said that local volunteers wishing to serve their community could join Civil Defence, through which they would be part of a proper command and control structure, and would be under the responsibility of Kerry County Council.