All-weather changing and showering facilities are to be built at three Kerry beaches as part of a €19 million project.
The project was launched by Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin and is aimed at extending the summer season beyond the traditional months.
Developments will take place at Ballybunion, Fenit and Magherabeg Lower in Castlegregory along with 19 other beaches nationwide.
The news has been welcomed by the Minister for Education and Kerry Fianna Fáil TD, Norma Foley.
The funding will be used to build world-class facility centres at 22 locations across the country where water-based activities are key visitor attractions.
Three locations at in Kerry - Ballybunion, Fenit Beach, and Magherabeg Lower in Castlegregory - will be developed under this scheme, in partnership with Kerry County Council.
Each centre will provide hot shower, changing and toilet facilities, secure storage, induction spaces, equipment washdown and orientation points.
They will be fully wheelchair accessible and built using sustainability best practices such as solar heating panels.
This project aims to meet the significant increases in people enjoying outdoor water-based activities such as kayaking, surfing, paddle-boarding and open water swimming.
CEO Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell says this funding is a huge vote of confidence in the tourism offering on the Wild Atlantic Way in the county.
She says the facilities at the three Kerry locations will facilitate a range of outdoor activities and also provide facilities for cycling on the Tralee Fenit Greenway.
