Youghal Council Accepts ‘Floating Pontoon’ Feasibility Proposal
By Christy Parker
Youghal Town Council has agreed to conduct a feasibility study with regard to constructing a floating pontoon development at the Nealon’s Quay jetty. The initiative formed a motion by FG Barbara Murray and seconded by FF Cllr Mary Linehan Foley at February’s council meeting.
Cllr Murray envisages a “floating breakwater made of concrete, with a proposed length of 150 metres”, which would permit safe access for all boat users. At full length it would accommodate 30 boats but would be composed of 20 metre segments that could be shortened or lengthened as required. With overnight mooring, it would greatly reduce trailer traffic on the quayside.
Presently, boats are not accessible at low tide and Cllr Murray said the pontoon would enhance access for “the able, disabled and less well able.” She says several water based business activities would benefit and that a fishermen’s representative had also expressed support.
Cllr Linehan Foley said the proposal would compliment the impending private marina due for construction as part of the Green’s Quay apartment complex that is near completion.
Cllr Murray had sourced one quote of €500,000 for 150 metres but that is merely the first splash, as it were. She would hope to acquire funding from Failte Ireland, which “is funding a number of initiatives in terms of grant aid to the tune of 75%,” she said. She added that Failte Ireland “is presently particularly keen to support water activity projects initiatives.”
Having heard her proposal, the meeting itself entered rough waters when Independent Cllr Olly Casey said the councillor had “some cheek” and was “playing politics” with her initiative. While not opposing the motion, Cllr Casey said he had forwarded a similar proposal -to extend the jetty at Nealon’s Quay - at last month’s Budget meeting, which was unsupported by all bar Green Cllr Liam Burke.
Cllr Casey reminded all that he is on the Harbour Municipal Committee and welcomed such developments but he slammed what he perceived as ‘headline’ making motions the funding of which councillors would subsequently refuse to sanction through rates appropriate rates increases come the Budget meeting. “Where is the remaining funding for this to come from? Out of the ground?”, he asked caustically. Cllr Burke described the motion as “the ultimate in political hypocrisy and cynicism,” given that Cllr Casey’s “similar” motion had gone unsupported. Cllr Murray reminded Cllr Casey that his motion pertained to additional rates increase, regardless of its alleged similarity.
As tempers neared the high water mark, Town Clerk Liam Ryan interjected that council capital towards a marina feasibility study some five years ago remained unspent, as the Co. Council had declined to further fund it at the time. This money, thought to be approximately €30,000, could be assigned to Cllr. Murray’s proposed feasibility study should the council wish to do so. He would ascertain the exact sum in storage, estimate the pontoon feasibility cost and return the matter to the council next month.
Cllr. Murray was reluctant to wait, citing possible time restraints on the Failte Ireland funding application, while Cllr O’Casey was further aggrieved that he was not made aware of the dormant funds when airing his motion last month!
FF Mayor Dave Savage then requested that Cllr Casey’s re-read his Budget motion and then declared that indeed it differed crucially to Cllr Murray’s in that it sought a further 2% on the agreed rates increase of 5.9%, to fund it. In the ensuing lull, the motion was passed unanimously, without vote, though it will resurface next month when Mr. Ryan’s findings are floated.
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