Progress on the long-awaited walkway and cycleway between Torc and Dinis has been halted following an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

At Wednesday’s meeting of the Killarney Municipal District, Cllr John O’Donoghue asked for an update on the project, which aims to remove pedestrians and cyclists from a dangerous stretch of the N71.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) originally applied for permission to build a raised platform walkway and cycleway connecting the Dinis and Torc (Cardiac Hill) car parks.
This design was chosen specifically to protect the natural habitat beneath the structure, including the rare Kerry Slug, which is found along the route. Kerry County Council granted planning permission for the project in January 2025, a move that was widely welcomed by the local tourism industry and safety advocates.
However, the project has since been delayed by a third-party appeal lodged by environmental group Wild Ireland Defence CLG.
The appeal challenges the Council’s assessment of how the construction material, including concrete and structural steel, might affect the Special Area of Conservation.
As a result of this appeal, An Coimisiún Pleanála has requested further information from the NPWS.
Council officials confirmed this week that there is currently no set date for a final decision.
The delay is a blow to the project, which has been discussed for over a decade as a vital safety measure. Currently, anyone completing the popular Muckross Lake loop is forced onto an 800-metre section of the busy Kenmare road, where they must share a narrow, winding road with tour buses and heavy traffic.
Cllr O’Donoghue described the ongoing hold-up as frustrating, noting that the completed path would be transformative for both locals and visitors.