By Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Plans to conduct a feasibility study towards construction of a floating pontoon in Youghal harbour continue apace. Cllr Barbara Murray (FG), who first proposed the initiative, told the March Town Council meeting that an ‘Inovation Fund’ to be er, launched, by Failte Ireland in the coming weeks seems tailor made for the study. The funding would also be used to conduct a study embracing the harbour generally.

Cllr Murray had feared that current Failte Ireland finding would be inappropriate or be time restricted. She had asked that Youghal Town Council use existing funding to a feasibility study for the provision of a floating pontoon for Nealons Quay.

Town Clerk Liam Ryan found costing figures that were much higher than anticipated. Cllr Murray then contacted Failte Ireland representative Marie Keane, who informed her of the upcoming ‘Innovation Fund’ and its likely suitability.

It was subsequently decided that the funding would be best applied to a study of the whole harbour, covering a number of areas. The provision and location of the proposed 150-metre pontoon, to cater for up to 30 boats, would be deemed by the overall outcome.

Cllr Murray envisages: conducting a harbour audit, identifying current uses and users and infrastructural needs, identifying future uses (with associated land opportunities), gauging maximization of the potential uses, identifying phases of plans and possible funding avenues and estimating costs of phasing.

The councilor suggests undertaking the study as “a phase 1 project” with, depending on the outcome, phase 2 being the project’s implementation. “Other projects that might surface (sic) could also be looked at,” she concludes.