TWO YEARS after the sand spit in Rossbeigh strand split and a new island was created in Dingle Bay, the natural erosion of the blue flag beach is continuing.
That is according to a detailed report prepared by Kerry County Council.
Millions of tonnes of sand have been washed away since mid-December 2008 – and the council says there is no ready remedy.
As well as a leisure area, the spit is an important wintering ground for Brent geese and other fowl as it contains a rare sand dune system. It holds a place in Irish legend as the strand from which Oisín is reputed to have left for Tír na nÓg.
The council is awaiting the results of research being carried out by the UCC-based Hydraulic and Maritime Research Centre.
It has ruled out preventive measures such as rock armour, saying it would not work and might exacerbate the erosion.
The report was made on foot of a motion by local councillor Michael Cahill, who has warned of the threat to the sand spit.
Mr Cahill said flooding threatening houses and lands in the inner bay area would worsen with erosion.
More than five million tonnes of sand and about 90 acres had been lost in recent years, Mr Cahill said. He was bitterly disappointed at the lack of progress by the Office of Public Works (OPW), which was responsible for coastal protection; the county council, which owns the spit; and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which oversees the area’s rare habitat.
“The situation is deteriorating very fast,” Mr Cahill said, adding there was now a gap of a third of a mile between the new island and the mainland.
Meanwhile, emergency works to Kerry’s soft coastline and piers have cost the council €8.9 million in the past four years. The council is owed considerable sums from the departments which are required to contribute funding.
This includes emergency works on the main Dingle road at Inch, which was in danger of falling into the sea after the high tides and winter storms of 2006.
The total cost of works in 2007 was almost €4 million, only a fraction of which it had recouped according to reports by the council to councillors Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald and Brendan Griffin.
“The council had no option but to commence the installation of a rock armour sea defence, as there was imminent risk of dangers to road users,” according to the report by director of transport Charles O’Sullivan.
In all, the council is owed some €4 million from an array of Government departments for piers and harbours and coastal protection work.
Mr Fitzgerald said the delay in paying the cash-strapped council was inexcusable.
Mr O’Sullivan said it could no longer undertake coastal protection works because it simply did not have the money.