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By Sean Moriarty

Residents of the Tiernaboul area are calling for Kerry County Council to extend the deadline for the public consultation period on the proposed Killarney bypass and new road to Farranfore.

The deadline for submissions and comments on four different routes between Farranfore and Lissivigeen ends today (Friday).

Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, the consultation process was carried out online. Interested parties were invited to view the various proposed routes via https://n22publicconsultation.virtualeventspace.io/.

These is a change from previous public consultations where maps and other project details would go on display in a public building like a town hall or library.

Many residents affected by the proposed routes are having difficulty understanding the maps published online and are calling for a more traditional approach to the consultation.

One idea being floated is to place the maps on display in a public building, like previous ones, but invite residents to examine the drawings by appointment. These measures, residents say, will help them get a better understanding of what is proposed and at the same time adhere to current COVID-19 restrictions.
Local man Chris Kelliher has visited over 100 households in the area and says the majority are left in the dark about what is happening.

“We need to defer the consultation until we are allowed look at the maps properly, what is the sudden rush in getting this over the line so fast,” he told the Killarney Advertiser.

“At least put the drawings on display and let us look at them, give every house a half-hour slot and let the people see for themselves. This is going to affect everyone in Tiernaboul but no one had full understanding of what is going on.”