Time running out for Valentia Ferry

KERRY TDs and Junior Minister Brendan Griffin have come under fire from local campaigners in Valentia who are seeking funding for a new ferry.

They claim that the Government and local representatives have let them down and that there is “no political will” to help rural Ireland.

“We have got nowhere since last year. It is proving difficult. The Government have no interest in rural Ireland,” said the manager of Valentia Ferry, Richard Foran.

Time is of the essence for the campaign as it will take more than two years to build a new boat. This project will need to begin this year before the current ferry service becomes obsolete.

€3m is needed for a new ferry, and once it is constructed and on the water, no other funding will be required.

€200,000 worth of works took place on Valentia Ferry last year to bring it up to the required standards as it was deemed too old to operate. This has provided a two-year reprieve for the ferry, but as a new boat needs to constructed, steps need to be taken as soon as possible to secure the future of this vital service.

“We have two years’ grace with the current ferry, subject to a yearly review, but time is running out,” explained Mr Foran.

Attempts had been made to secure funding from Fáilte Ireland, but this was refused because the ferry is not seen as a tourism infrastructure project. This decision angered the local community, who claim the ferry is a vital infrastructural project and key to tourism in the area.

“This is of vital importance for the area. Transport is infrastructure, and this brings 250,000 people to the area every year,” said Mr Foran.

“The ferry was started to reignite tourism in the area, and it has worked. Tourism is the only prospect for the area, and the ferry is part of this.”

Fears for its future are very serious if funding is not found, and Mr Foran and local campaigners are once again calling on political representatives to help secure its future.

The group is in talks with Kerry County Council to seek funding under the rural regeneration programme, but this funding requires the support of a local authority or a state body and Mr Foran believes that the “powers that be” have no interest:

“If there is a will there is a way, but the powers that be have no interest.”

Photo by Dominick Walsh Valentia Ferry returned last week for the summer season, but its future is uncertain if funding is not provided for a new boat