Gardaí will be policing Kerry beaches and amenities this weekend to combat illegal parking.
Last weekend issues arose as illegally parked vehicles obstructed roadways and blocked emergency access routes at some of Kerry’s most popular amenities.
Gardaí, Kerry County Council and the HSE have issued a joint appeal, asking motorists to park legally and responsibly when visiting such areas.
Gardaí say on the spot fines will be issued for any illegal and dangerous parking.
Assistant Commissioner of An Garda Síochána for the Southern Region, Michael Finn says after being cooped up at home for so long, it’s only natural we are all going to head for our beaches and tourist spots.
However, he says everyone must park legally and safely, adding parking irresponsibly can force wheelchair users and people pushing buggies onto the road, which puts them in harm’s way.
Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Patrick O’Connor Scarteen is urging people to be sensible and ensure safety when visiting Kerry amenities; he says it’s critical for people to park properly and ensure emergency services have clear access to our beaches, parks and public places.
Cllr O’Connor Scarteen is also asking everyone to bring their rubbish home with them.
Meanwhile, Acting Director of Public Health for the region, Dr Anne Sheahan says people need to continue to look after their health this weekend.
Dr Sheahan says we are seeing evidence the new variants of COVID-19 are even more contagious, and says they’ve seen cases transmitted outdoors.
She’s appealing for people to continue to keep socially distant and to wear a mask both indoors and outdoors in crowded places.
