This article is from page 22 of the 2014-06-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 22 JPG
CLARE’S landmark tourism destinations are open for business this summer, despite the damages done to many areas in this winter’s severe storms.
That was the message from Clare County Council yesterday, despite the admission from the local authority that the damage done during this year’s storms will take years to rectify.
Speaking at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council, County Manager Tom Coughlan said that the local authority prioritised repair works which were essential to tourism location in the west and north of the county.
In response to a motion from Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind), the council admitted that repair works will take a number of years to complete.
“Ultimately, a multi-annual programme is required to deal efficiently with the extensive and varied instances of coastal damage which occurred in January and February last,” said a council spokesperson.
Cllr Curtin highlighted a lack of information coming from the Government, particularly concerning the allocation of money for damages caused during the February storm.
“There is concern out there, par- ticulary in the tourist parts of the county,” said Cllr Curtin.
“It has taken six months of locals enduring charges: they are paying property tax and housing tax, and their services are not being maintained.
“The delay is coming from a lack of response from Government. We got € 16 million [from the January storms], there was to be € 12 million from the OPW [sea armour and coastal defenses] and to date we haven’t had any of this.”
Cllr Michael Hillary (FF) said many areas will now face even greater damage as repairs and defense works will not be carried out before winter.
“In relation to a multi-annual programme which is needed now, we have reached an impasse.
“The funding which was promised has not been forthcoming,” he said.
“What is worrying me is that at this time of the year is when we should be carrying out this kind of work – while the seas are calm and the days are long, but there doesn’t seem to be any works being done on the ground.
“It looks like these people will have to face next winter without any works or defences being put in place. If we receive other storms this coming winter there will be a lot more damage next year.”