Future of island ferry in doubt
ON Sunday, October 8, the Valentia Island Car Ferry concluded it’s season having operated from March to October.However, the ferry, hugely vital to the economy of Valentia and the wider Iveragh area, is in need of being replaced as it is in existence since 1963.
The group responsible for the ferry, through self-finance and additional borrowing, has raised €1million of the €2.8million needed for a new boat. The present craft has been deemed, by the Marine Survey Office, as needing to be replaced in 2018.
At this time the ferry owners have been unsuccessful in their bid to secure capital from Fáilte Ireland and have exhausted all other means of self-initiated fund raising.
Although there is a bridge from Portmagee, the ferry is irreplaceable in relation to Valentia’s economic, social and environmental future. It is defining as a stand-alone piece of infrastructure that has a proven track record and is a success.
With 100,000 cars and an average of a quarter of a million passengers conveyed between Knightstown and Renard in 2016 - in a season running from the end of March through to the start of October - these resounding figures speak for themselves and therefore justify the need for assisted funding.
An emergency meeting on the ferry was expected to take place this week between a ferry deputation and Ministers Heather Humphreys, Michael Ring and Shane Ross.