‘Deep disappointment’ in Kerry after county misses out on critical national gas project

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

Gas Networks Ireland has selected Cahiracon, Co. Clare, as the location of the nation’s Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve (SGER), rather than the Tarbert/Ballylongford landbank which was also in the running.

The move has prompted the Mayor of Kerry to express his “deep disappointment” after the county missed out on a key government project.

The SGER is a state-led project which looks to provide a backup gas supply in the event of a disruption to the country’s primary gas supplies.

Not only is Ireland heavily dependent on imported natural gas, with 80 per cent of total supply delivered from Great Britain, but the country is the only one in Europe with no domestic gas storage.

The Ballylongford-native Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Michael Foley, said he was deeply disappointed by the missed opportunity for north Kerry and said he felt the area was neglected by the government.

“While I fully support the national objective of strengthening Ireland’s energy security, this announcement represents a significant missed opportunity for my area of North Kerry,” he said.

“Hopefully decisions that are in the pipeline with the courts and with An Coimisiún Pleanála for the LNG project will be positive and the Landbank can at long last be utilised and developed.”

“But yet again my area of North Kerry feels forgotten and neglected when it comes to Government decisions.”

The Shannon LNG project to build a power plant on the Tarbert/Ballylongford landbank is currently awaiting decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála, having been in the pipeline for the best part of two decades.