PLANS for the Doolin Pier visitor services building are currently at a standstill.
Since April, Clare County Council have been trying to source extra funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development to progress the Doolin Pier Visitor Services Building to statutory consent stage.
In 2019, planning permission was granted for the visitor centre. The Council had signalled their intent to submit a planning application for the visitor centre with An Bord Pleánala at the end of 2022 with the hope of gaining approval by the second quarter of 2023. The handover of the site had previously been earmarked for 2024.
However in his monthly management report for July, Chief Executive of the County Council, Pat Dowling stated that that following the latest meeting with the Department “the Council are reviewing the proposal and the options for delivery including resources required”.
This was noted by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) who pointed out at Monday’s meeting of the Council that category two funding to the tune of €465,000 was granted in 2019. “What has happened,” he asked. “We really need to focus on that project”.
Director of Physical Development, Alan Farrell said they will be holding another meeting with the Department and will “engage directly with elected representatives”. He admitted, “there’s some issues on funding and we’re trying to get additional funding”.
Dowling told the meeting, “Doolin is still very much front and centre in the context of our plans”. He committed to giving councillors a more detailed update.
