asked the Minister for Local Government why he granted permission for the erection of a cable car system from the Torc Waterfall, County Kerry to the top of Mangerton mountain for which Bord Fáilte are giving a 25 per cent grant up to a maximum of £50,000, particularly as (a) the local authority had already refused permission for the work, (b) over 100 jarveys, boatmen and ponymen and their families who derive their living solely from tourism in the area gave evidence at the recent enquiry that the cable car would be a threat to their livelihood, and (c) 12,000 local inhabitants have now signed a petition objecting to the proposal; and when he granted permission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Cable Car System.
43.
As the Deputy must be well aware, I did not grant permission for this development. Kerry County Council, the planning authority for the area, decided to grant planning permission for it, subject to conditions, on 5th December last and a number of appeals were lodged with me against that decision, including an appeal from the intending developers against one of the conditions proposed by the planning authority. I am at present awaiting the report of my inspector who very recently conducted an oral hearing of the appeals at Killarney. The appeals have not yet been decided. They will not be decided until such time as this report has been made. The petition handed to the inspector contained roughly 1,200 signatures, not 12,000 as stated by the Deputy.