LOCAL FISHERMAN will be among those consulted if the outside pier at Carrigaholt is to undergo improvement works.
Officials in Clare County Council were pressed by Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) to give a commitment towards making improvements at the outside pier in Carrigaholt.
West Clare Municipal District senior executive engineer, Alan Kennelly outlined that the Council had been successful with recent applications to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) securing funding from the piers and harbours fund plus the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (BALAMI). Two projects at the inside pier in Carrigaholt were completed in recent years, he stated.
Funds will be made to both schemes for improvements to the outside pier, Kenneally confirmed. “Proposed improvements would have to be agreed with the local fishermen and other pier users prior to a funding application,” he added.
Speaking at the March sitting of the West Clare MD, Cllr Murphy commented, “Some repair works needs to be undertaken as a matter of some urgency, the pier is not in danger of falling down but they are crucial to its long-time viability”.
Replicating works at Cappa is what Carrigaholt needs “to make it safe, the steps are lethal on the pier,” Cllr Murphy maintained. “Fishermen need safe access up and down the steps. The floating platform is very important. This is a piece of the train with offshore renewables coming”.
Senior executive officer, John O’Malley was confident the Department would revert with another proposal next year. “There are discussions over it, there was a good bundle of money over it, there may be a third call,” Kenneally advised of BALAMI. “It is important we’re shovel ready for next year,” O’Malley replied. “If it has to be done in phased way that is fine,” said Murphy.
Seconding the call for works, Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) stated, “There was plans drawn up to extend the pier. The Simply Blue project seems to be coming closer, it may be an opportunity to use the area as a depot. Carrigaholt is crying out for improvement on infrastructure not to mention sewerage but we won’t go down that road, we’ll stay by the water”.
Director of Service in Rural Development, Leonard Cleary said the Municipal District and his Directorate would “try and progress it”.
