Kerry County Council apologises as multi-million-euro projects delayed
A number of multi-million-euro projects in Kerry will be delayed as they must go before the public again for comment despite local councillors voting them through just last month.
Kerry County Council has apologised for the setback, which will affect a number of projects, including a long-awaited theatre and six storey health services building.
An 'internal procedural checking process' carried out by the council uncovered four separate instances where online public submissions had not been considered during the Part 8 development process.
The submissions had not been made available to councillors during the voting process in Listowel and in Killarney.
The affected projects will have to be readvertised, go before the public again for comment and voted on again by councillors.
The projects include €21m plans in Killarney to redevelop the Áras Phádraig site into a theatre and health services building and other town centre works.
Councillors recently approved the plans here. However, controversy has been growing because the development of the Lewis Road site will lead to a reduction in car park spaces in a town choked with traffic and chronically short of parking.
Questions had also been raised about the appropriateness of giving council -wned land to the HSE for a health services building — when at least three hospitals in Killarney on HSE-owned land will shortly become vacant.
Public realm improvements at Kenmare Place and Main Street, Killarney, will also now have to go out for consultation again. Safety improvement works at Abbeydorney Junction will also have to be voted on again.
The fourth project impacted is the N22 MD O'Shea Roundabout to Ballycasheen Road Upgrade & L3907 Ballycasheen Road Active Travel Project, in the Killarney Municipal District.
However, as this project is still within the statutory time frame, unlike the other three projects, it does not require to be re-advertised.
'An updated report in respect of the project to take account of all submissions received will be required to be considered at the upcoming Killarney Municipal District meeting,' Kerry County Council said in a statement.
"Kerry County Council wishes to confirm that a full check of the process in relation to the above developments has been carried out and to apologise for any inconvenience caused."
Councillors are unlikely to vote against the Aras Phádraig project; Killarney councillor Niall Botty O'Callaghan said the HSE input, though not ideal, was vital to receive funding of up to €15 million for the redevelopment.
A small theatre was much needed, he said, adding:"Killarney can't afford to lose €15 million, and what is to happen to the Aras Phádraig - to lie idle for another 15 to 20 years? ' The project is expected to come before the council again in July.
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