Anger over permits costing €300 for water sports promoters

Permits costing €300 will be required for people promoting water sports activities on Kerry’s beaches.

It has been claimed the tough new bylaws will act as a disincentive to enterprise.

In addition to permits, those providing surfing services must be accredited by the Irish Surfing Association. All other activities will need annual €100 permits. The fees only apply to commercial interests, not individuals.

According to Kerry County Council’s director of environmental services, Oliver Ring, current bylaws — introduced in 2007 — are not adequate to secure necessary convictions.

“We ran into difficulties last year in trying to regulate activity on our beaches. The bylaws are not strong enough and we now want to amend them so that we can take whatever action is necessary,” he explained.

Cllr Paul O’Donoghue (FF) said even current bylaws were too restrictive and claimed the council was looking for a blank cheque to charge what it liked.

“We should be encouraging, rather than restricting, enterprise. These new bylaws will be a deterrent to enterprise on beaches at a time when the policy should be to encourage as much employment and beach activity as possible,” he said.

Mr Ring said it was unfair to suggest the council was seeking a blank cheque, pointing out it was trying to deal with commercial activity. He felt €300 was a reasonable charge.

The new bylaws are being put out for public consultation and are due to come before the council for adoption in mid-June.

People found contravening the bylaws will be liable for fines up to a maximum of €1,500.

The bylaws will also restrict access of vehicles, caravans, horses, and animals to beaches.

Meanwhile, with little money available nationally to combat coastal erosion, there are growing concerns about the situation at Rossbeigh Beach on the Ring of Kerry.

An application for government funding for Rossbeigh has been turned down. Upwards of 70 acres have been lost to the sea since 2008, according to Cllr Michael Cahill (Ind).

Mr Cahill said there would soon be “nothing left to monitor” unless something was done quickly.

Coastal erosion in north Kerry was highlighted by Cllr Robert Beasley (SF) who said the situation at Ballybunion Golf Club would now be as serious as Rossbeigh if the club had not undertaken work to protect its courses over many years.