Developers effectively at the whim of water agency in Kerry town

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

The development of a Kerry town besieged by water issues has effectively been abandoned by the planning authorities, according to a Kerry councillor.

Over 80 houses have been approved by the planning regulator in Kenmare, but it is being left up to the developer to secure a water source.

Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann is reported to be retracing the steps of a failed €3m project which left the town with no new water and Kerry County Council (KCC) in the lurch.

Water shortages have plagued Kenmare for years, with many planning applications being rejected by KCC on the basis that there is a lack of water capacity.

However, recently the planning regulator, An Coimisiún Pleanála, which has stepped in to review applications, has now granted permission for an 85-house development in the town, leaving the developer acquire a water connection from Uisce Éireann.

At a recent Kenmare Municipal District meeting, Councillor Johnny Healy-Rae warned that this set a new precedent for planning of the town.

“We’re no longer in the hands in the planning authority be it Kerry County Council or An Coimisiún Pleanála, we’re in the hands of Uisce Éireann,” he said.

“They don’t know themselves what they are going to do about the water…the facts are since 2008 there’s less water coming into the town now.”

It also emerged at the meeting that the water utility was looking at extracting drinking water from the Roughty River, retracing the steps of the KCC when they attempted take water from the River Sheen back in 2014.

The project was ultimately ruled against in the High Court, leaving the €3.1m already spent on the scheme with no end.

“I can’t believe we are going to make the same mistake Kerry County Council made in the past,” said Cllr Healy-Rae.

“It’s far more intrusive, there’s industries along it, people get fearful, planning implications…it’s very hard to understand in a town like Kenmare…it’s surrounded by lakes.”

“I would safety bet what I have that it would not be in place in 15 years from today.”

He highlighted the problems faced by the town, including shrinking school numbers and lack of accommodation for seasonal workers. All of these, he asserted, could be solved by first solving the town’s housing problems.

He said he was ‘awfully fearful’ that developers would move on and establish projects elsewhere.

“If we lose this we’re failing badly…the only way we solve these problems is building more housing,” said Cllr Healy-Rae.

“This town is going very well but it has potential to go better.”

Councillor Teddy O’Sullivan-Casey questioned why Uisce Éireann was not able to take water from the numerous lakes around Kenmare.

Many of the areas around the town fall within Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), including many of the lakes which have muted at potential water source.

“I can’t see why they can’t take water from the lakes in the SAC when we’re talking about extracting water from the river in the SAC,” he reasoned.

KCC agreed that water should be part of the planning process and that the planning regulator had taken charge of the process.