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Anger at lack of Council progress on Áras Phádraig site

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By Sean Moriarty

Kerry County Council will present a briefing on the plan for the Áras Phádraig building on the Lewis Road early next year. The Council’s executive is currently completing a cost-benefit analysis on the site.

February will mark the fourth anniversary of a public consultation into the future of the site. The Franciscan Order donated the site to the people of Killarney in 2009 and nearly 12 years on local councillors are getting increasingly frustrated at a lack of progress.

Over a year ago, Council officials promised that they would present a development plan for the town centre site and so far nothing has been done.
Killarney Mayor Brendan Cronin called the Council to task at Monday’s ordinary meeting between elected councillors and the executive in Tralee.

“Will Kerry County Council give a date for the presentation of detailed proposals to utilise this unique location?” he asked the meeting.

The Council cited several official reasons for the delay including the potential to include the Áras Phádraig in the town’s development plan which is currently under consideration and need to get approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform before money can be spent on the site.

Following the 2017 public consultation, Kerry County Council made several proposals for the site, including the provision of a theatre, community space, an office for Kerry Parents and Friends and car parking.

“This development requires a financial and economic appraisal of the developed options including a Cost-Benefit Analysis to determine that the overall development will be financially viable and will deliver an economic return in the area,” a Council official told the meeting.

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Contactless payments launched on Local Link services

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Passengers using TFI Local Link Kerry services in Killarney and across the county can now pay for their journeys using contactless card payments.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed the rollout this week, allowing commuters to simply tap their debit card, credit card, or mobile devices, such as Apple Pay and Google Pa, when boarding.

The move is designed to offer more convenience for those using high-frequency rural and regional routes.

In Killarney, the new payment option will be available on the TFI Anseo town services, which have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers since their introduction.

The contactless system is currently available for single journey fares, while those using daily or weekly passes can continue to use the Leap website or the TFI Leap Top Up App.
Alan O’Connell, General Manager of TFI Local Link Kerry, welcomed the modernisation of the fleet.

“The introduction of contactless payments is another welcome step forward for public transport in Kerry,” he said. “It complements other major projects in the county, including the expansion of TFI Local Link services and the delivery of TFI Anseo in Killarney, which is proving to be another great initiative.”

While the new technology offers a modern alternative, traditional payment methods are not being phased out. Cash payments, TFI Leap cards, and Free Travel Cards all remains fully valid across the network.

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How will our Kerry TDs vote tomorrow?

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Tomorrow, Sinn Féin will be tabling a motion of no confidence against the Government after the protests that took place nationwide during the week.

Earlier today we asked our readers how would they vote in a no confidence motion against the Government?

Most of our readers said they would vote no confidence, while some said, yes they do have confidence in the Government.

One reader said: “Vote confidence. The only proper leadership over the last few days came from government. Courage came when needed despite how unpopular it looked in the moment. By contrast, opposition politicians wanted the country to burn to suit themselves”.

Another reader stated: “No confidence. Shambolic and heavy handed handling of protests this past week”.

However, some people didn’t have any confidence in either side with a reader saying: “No confidence in the no confidence! Different wings of the same bird! We need a complete overhaul of the political system”.

We asked the question to our 5 Kerry TDs before lunch-time today, asking them what their vote will be tomorrow.

We received one reply from Sinn Féin’s Kerry TD Pa Daly.

He will be voting no confidence in the Government tomorrow along with his party.

Other media outlets are reporting that Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae is undecided at the moment.

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