No section of the South Kerry Greenway will open this year.
It had previously been anticipated that the vast majority of the greenway would be completed early this year.
However, following motions at today’s Kenmare Municipal District, the council confirmed that there are currently no plans for any part of the project to open this year.
The meeting heard that land acquisition is underway and negotiations with landowners are progressing well, as are construction works.
However, the council said part of the project is proving challenging.
Cathaoirleach of the Kenmare MD and Fianna Fáil councillor Tommy Cahill and Fine Gael councillor Teddy O’Sullivan-Casey both tabled motions seeking an update on the project.
Cllr Cahill asked for confirmation that one section of the South Kerry greenway would open in the fourth quarter of this year, as had been expected.
In response, the council told him there are no plans to open any section of the greenway at the end of the year.
Kerry County Council stated this was a large infrastructure project, with different sections of it at various stages.
The meeting heard the current project management approach agreed with TII doesn’t provide for separate phasing of the project that would allow sections to be opened and necessary services, including car parking, need to be in place for it to open.
Cllr Cahill says there are businesses in Cahersiveen and throughout South Kerry that are barely hanging on and he says until the greenway gets over the line, things might not look up for these businesses.
Cllr Teddy O’Sullivan-Casey says there are concerns locally about the pace of the project. He also asked if there were challenges around the viaduct, near Mountain Stage and Kells.
The council told him works around the viaduct are challenging, saying it’s an old structure that needs to be brought up to standard. The council says there’s no issue but says this section is very challenging from an engineering perspective and tender documents are being finalised; these are expected to be published in the third quarter of the year.
Kerry Council Council says in relation to the South Kerry Greenway, land acquisition is underway and negotiations with landowners / agents are progressing well. Works are well advanced on a 5km section of the Greenway between Glenbeigh and the N70 road overbridge (L-11652) at Coolnaharragill Upper. Fencing, capping, drainage works and accommodation works are progressing well in this area.
The main site compound has been set up at Kells PO.
Construction Works on a further section between Gortnagree and Kells PO (3.5 km) are progressing well.
It also says advance works contracts for retaining structures and site clearance works at Mountain Stage have been completed. Temporary fencing will commence shortly on the section from Kells Station to Cloghanelinaghan. Ecological monitoring is ongoing. Further advance works and surveys are underway.
Tender documents are being finalised for the most challenging section between Mountain Stage and Kells PO. Tender documents will be published in Q3 2025 subject to the necessary approvals.
The council says consultants have been appointed to obtain the statutory consent necessary for the section from Renard to Cahersiveen (including northeast of the Valentia Estuary Viaduct). A public consultation outlining the Study Area and Route Options took place in October 2024 in Cahersiveen and was well attended. The preferred option for both study areas will be chosen and displayed in the third quarter of the year.
The council says this is a large infrastructure project and while as outlined above, there are various sections at different stages of construction, the current project management approach agreed with TII does not provide for separate phasing of the project that would allow sections to be opened in the near term.
