SLIPWAY DELAY AN ‘EMBARRASSMENT’ FOR COUNCIL OFFICIALS

MORE than two years since it was first proposed, the new slipway at Kilmore Quay remains in the planning process, a situation which one Rosslare councillor has described as an ‘absolute embarrassment for Wexford County Council’.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD), Cllr Ger Carthy said, ‘This is going on since before the last local election, it’s tipping two-and-a-half years now and is an absolute embarrassment for the officials of WCC.

‘They’ve made a number of promises, kicked the can down the road, had a number of proposals, changed the proposals, and now we’re at some type of proposal, for some type of slipway at some area of that coastline.

‘It’s an embarrassment, it continues to be an embarrassment, and the anger in that area is palpable. I want a report on where we are with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW) and from WCC, to deliver on a promise made by the Senior Engineer and the then Director of Services.’

Updating the councillors, Coastal Engineer George Colfer said, ‘We met the OPW remotely on January 27, that was a broad discussion on funding available, and we submitted our report on February 10. We’re looking at incorporating beach access as part of an overall erosion scheme.’

This level of progress did not curry favour with Cllr Carthy.

‘I don’t think that’s good enough to be submitting report for design of a slipway that was supposed to be put in two-and-a-half years ago. ‘Have the members of the RMD been misled by officials?’ he asked. ‘The slipway is going to form part of detailed design that will probably take 12 months with the best will in the world.’

Although a special meeting in relation to the slipway was held last September, Cllr Carthy proposed another take place in an effort to provide further clarity. At that meeting the councillors chose a design plan from three presented to them by officials, yet, according to Cllr Lisa McDonald, the council had since ‘moved diametrically from that design’.

‘There is an issue with erosion and there should be an erosion plan but that does not take from our responsibility to deliver what was promised,’ she said. ‘I agree with Cllr Carthy, it’s outrageous we held a special meeting, had promises made to us, and then officials moved on without coming back to us.’

And, according to Cllr McDonald, residents in Kilmore Quay met with council officials as recently as December and were given assurances with regards to the slipway. ‘Those promises which were made to those people directly by officials need to be revisited. They’re way more frustrated than we are.’ Ultimately, it was decided another special meeting would be held, with representatives from Kilmore Quay invited to join local councillors via video conference call.