Cork County Council has confirmed funding for a foreshore license, design and site investigation for Keelbeg Pier in Union Hall.

The Council and Union Hall pier users met with Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue to discuss the development of the old pier. Cork South West deputy Christopher O’Sullivan facilitated the meeting.

Over the last number of years the pier has been a matter of controversy because of efforts made to cut off access to the pier due to safety concerns.

The meeting was an effort to progress the issue. Fianna Fáil deputy O’Sullivan, who is also the party spokesperson on coastal communities, said, “I am really happy with the outcome of this meeting. I have to pay credit to Cork Couty Council who have stepped up to the mark here and confirmed that they will fund the €300,000 needed to apply for foreshore licenses, statutory consents, design and site investigations. This is incredibly significant because with these consents in place, it unlocks the potential for further funding from the department"

Minister McConalogue outlined at the meeting that the department will only fund capital works, so a project has to be shovel-ready.

"The fact that Cork County Council now have stepped up to the mark and committed to this means that we can hope to have the project shovel ready by 2026," O'Sullivan said.

The old pier in Union Hall is an incredibly important facility for the local community. They don’t have access to the commercial fishing pier which is for commercial access only. Therefore, the old Keelbeg Pier is the community's only access to the water. It's used for leisure purposes, including small inshore boats, fishing boats, whale-watching vessels and other recreational users. This announcement is a boost as it means there is light at the end of the tunnel for the development of this key piece of infrastructure,” he said.

O’Sullivan continued, “I think the fact that the pier is included in the national development plan is key here also. It should mean that it is prioritised when it comes to accessing funding for capital works. This is something that I will continue to push for in the months and years ahead”.

Cork South West TD Christopher O’Sullivan has confirmed that he has arranged for a meeting to take place between Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue and Cork County Council management to discuss a funding mechanism for the repair and extension of the old pier at Keelbeg in Union Hall.

It is hoped that some members of the local campaign to save the West Cork pier will also attend.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the decision was made to close the Keelbeg pier to public access in April 2022 “in order to improve safety”, a move that was met with dismay from the local community.

Deputy O’Sullivan said: “There was great positivity at the meeting in Keelbeg Pier last Saturday [10 February] and I want to once again commend the activism and vigilance of the community down there who have so far prevented access from being cut off to the pier.

“It is high time that we had a clear plan for the repair and extension of the old pier at Union Hall. It is such an important facility for locals, rowing club, marine leisure, whale watching boats, as well as some small local fishing boats.”

The cost of the project is estimated at around €1.5 million, but no funding has yet been secured for these works.

Deputy O’Sullivan added: “This is a very unique project. The big advantage for Keelbeg is that it is mentioned on the Government’s National Development Plan. For me this opens up an opportunity for a special fund to be identified to repair and extend the pier.

“I am happy to confirm that I have spoken to both management in Cork County Council as well as the ,inister and they have agreed to sit around a table to discuss a funding mechanism. This meeting will happen as soon as possible.

“There is a long process ahead in terms of planning permissions, foreshore licences and design, but we need to start somewhere.”