3,800 Kerry premises connected to National Broadband Plan

Almost 3,800 premises across Kerry are connected to the National Broadband Plan (NBP). That’s according to figures provided at the full meeting of Kerry County Council. The meeting heard €107 million has been invested in the county under the NBP.

Almost 28,000 (27,553) premises in Kerry are covered by the National Broadband Plan. This includes 3,778 already active connections; almost 15,000 (14,882) networks are built and available to order/pre-order ; while 4,025 network builds are in progress. TJ Malone, National Broadband Ireland Deployment CEO, told the meeting the take up rate in the county is below the national average.

Adding that the plan is expected to be fully rolled out across Kerry by 2026. Councillors voiced concerns over poor internet speeds in the county, in particular in Milltown and North Kerry. Fianna Fáil councillor for the Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne MD Mike O’Shea described the broadband services in Milltown as a disaster and asked NBI to take immediate action in the region.

Fianna Fáil councillor Norma Moriarty spoke of issues with internet connectivity in the Kenmare area, which led to further delays of almost six months for some premises. She requested a local NBI representative contact line be created. Kerry Independent Alliance councillor John O’Donoghue described services in the county as absolutely vital, however flagged administration issues, where eircodes are not being recognised on the website.

Fine Gael councillor for the Listowel MD, Mike Kennelly asked as there are 62 internet providers in the country should more competitive pricing for broadband be in place. Members heard network builds are ongoing in areas including Ballyheigue, Tralee and Ballydavid; while almost 3,000 premises in Listowel and over 1,000 in Sneem are expected to be delivered by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, surveys are pending for areas including Castleisland, Glencar and Kells, which covers over 5,500 connections to premises in these areas.

Public Consultation begins on N22 Farranfore to Killarney Project

A Public consultation on a major road project in Kerry will begin on Friday. The N22 Farranfore-Killarney road project is currently in its second phase, which includes the selection of a route and the first stage of public consultation.

The N22 National Primary Road extends from Cork City to the outskirts of Tralee town with the route traversing the town of Killarney and the village of Farranfore. Kerry County Council (KCC) is working in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Department of Transport to develop the N22 Farranfore to Killarney Project.

The N22 Farranfore to Killarney Project involves the examination of feasible transport solutions, including public transport solutions and road-based solutions to improve connectivity between Killarney and Farranfore and its surrounds.

In 2003, a preferred route corridor for an improved section of the N22 National Primary road between Farranfore and Killarney was identified. Following a Peer Review process in 2008, some refinement areas were identified for re-assessment and a refined preferred route corridor was finalised in 2012.

However, this project was later suspended due to the prevailing economic circumstances at the time. Since the identification and appraisal of the Refined Preferred Route Corridor in 2012, several changes to European and National policy have occurred including in areas of Environmental Protection, Climate Adaptation and Transport
Sustainability.

In 2019, KCC in consultation with TII commenced a review of the scheme in accordance with current National Guidelines to consider and assess all alternative modes and options which could potentially improve the transport connectivity between Farranfore and Killarney and onwards to Tralee and Cork. As part of the process, a southern link road between the N22 and the N71 Muckross Road in Killarney is also being developed and forms part of the consultation.

Details of the public consultation can be found here: https://n22.kerrycoco.ie/public-consultation/

GAA Fixtures this weekend

The Super 8s are upon us once again and this weekend will leave some GAA fans torn as not only are Cork’s Hurlers and Footballers playing on different days, but Sunday sees Hurling and Football matches scheduled at the same time:

Saturday 13/7/2019
5pm Roscommon vs Tyrone on Sky Sports
7pm Dublin vs Cork on RTE 2

Sunday 14/7 /2019
2pm Donegal vs Meath on Sky Sports
4pm Kerry vs Mayo on RTE 1

Hurling quarter finals will be shown on RTE2 on Sunday 14/7/2019 (same time as football)
2pm Cork vs Kilkenny
4pm Tipperary vs Laois

Killarney House refurbishment complete

Killarney House and Gardens, Killarney National Park. Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan

A €10 million refurbishment of Killarney House and Gardens has been completed.
Minister of State and Kerry TD Brendan Griffin marked the occasion by opening a major interpretative exhibition.

The exhibition has over 300 pieces of artwork, sixteen pieces of audio-visual content and 450 images and photos of the house and Killarney National Park.

The restoration of Killarney House and Gardens began in 2011. via Radio Kerry News

Many without power following Storm Ali

Over 2,600 homes are without power in Kerry. ESB networks are working to repair electricity lines across the county, following strong winds overnight and early this morning. They say the majority of faults are as a result of fallen trees.

A fault in Causeway is affecting hundreds of customers in the area, while 83 customers just outside Tralee on the N69 are without power. Over 1,600 homes in West Kerry are affected due to a fault in Inch, with homes in Camp, Castlegregory, Maharees and Brandon without power.

In total, over 2,500 homes are without power in North Kerry, which includes Ballyseedy, the Kerries, Castleisland and Moyvane. 22 homes are also without power in Glenbeigh, while a small number in Killarney and Barraduff are also affected, and there are 29 homes without power in Kilgarvan.

Kerry County Council staff have been responding to fallen trees and other issues across the county since 5am and have now dealt with all the major blockages on roads across the county. There are now no known obstructions to any national primary, secondary or regional roads in the county.

 

Injunction against extension of planning permission for Shannon LNG

An environmental group has secured an injunction against a decision to extend planning permission to the Shannon LNG project in North Kerry. The High Court granted the injunction to Friends of the Irish Environment. In July, An Bórd Pleanála granted a five-year extension to planning permission granted for the proposed 500 million euro liquefied natural gas terminal. Planning was first granted for the development ten years ago.

Friends of the Irish Environment are seeking leave to apply for a judicial review of  An Bórd Pleanála’s decision to extend planning permission for the Shannon LNG natural gas terminal on the Tarbert-Ballylongford landbank. Yesterday, the High Court granted the environmental group an injunction. There’ll be a full hearing on October 4th when the environmental group will submit an application for a judicial review of the planning decision.

The Safety Before LNG group has praised Friends of the Irish Environment and says shipped fracked gas from the United States would have a disastrous effect on the climate. However, Fianna Fáil TD John Brassil says gas energy is the cleanest of the fossil fuels and the terminal is needed to help reduce the country’s dependence on oil and coal.

If the project goes ahead, it could create 400 construction jobs as well as 100 permanent positions when operational. Two weeks ago, it emerged that US company New Fortress Energy had entered an agreement to progress the project, with the expectation that the facility will begin operations at the end of 2020.

Sigmar to create 50 jobs in Tralee

Recruitment firm Sigmar are to create 50 jobs at the firms European Talent Hub in Tralee.
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2018/0814/984934-sigmar-to-create-50-kerry-jobs-for-recruiters/

Killarney street to be pedestrianised

Pedestrianisation is to be introduced overnight on a Killarney street. It follows a vote taken by members of Killarney Municipal District on the plans for Plunkett Street.

Independent Cllr Donal Grady was against the move as he said the town was not properly prepared. However, Cllr Michael Gleeson said pedestrianisation is vital to the heartbeat of Killarney which he believes will enhance the town as a tourist destination.

The plans will involve traffic calming measures to restrict vehicular access to Plunkett Street from the Main Street junction to Reen’s Pharmacy. From Monday April 9th onwards between 7pm and 7am Plunkett Street will be pedestrianised on a permanent basis. The council will also trial pedestrianisation on the street from 11am to 7am from tomorrow Saturday March 31st to Monday 9th April, from May 11th until May 21st and from June 29th to September 3rd. Following these trial periods, a report will be prepared for councillors.

All businesses in Plunkett Street were contacted and three public submissions and an observation from Gardai were received on the plans; some concerns were raised about the potential impact on business and traffic.

Tourism worth €400m to Killarney

A study of the economic impact of tourism on Killarney has found that the industry is worth over €400m to the town annually, and directly employs more than 3,000 people.

But the study has also found that the town is suffering significantly from bottlenecks in the road network as well as from seasonality, with occupancy rates dropping to a low of 20% in December.

Killarney is one of the country’s key tourism hubs, attracting 1.1 million visitors per year.town’s Chamber of Commerce has targeted growth of 30% between now and 2025, and commissioned research and planning company W2 Consulting to come with a road map of how that growth might be achieved.

Its report on the economic impact of tourism on the town points to problems with seasonality and regionality; occupancy rates drop to as low as 20% in December, trailing the national average of 60% for that time of year.

The town is also suffering because of a lack of foreign direct investment – only 7% of visitors come to Killarney on business.

 

Great Southern Hotel reopens

An historic Killarney hotel is re-opening today under its original name. More recently known as The Malton, it’s returning to the original Great Southern name following a major refurbishment.  The grand-dame-style hotel first opened in 1854; the Scally family have owned it since 2014 and it’s part of the Hayfield Family Collection that includes the Killarney Royal Hotel and Hayfield Manor Hotel in Cork.