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Irish Examiner
24-07-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Pilot schemes to detect deer on roads in bid to reduce collisions to be rolled out in Kerry next month
A pilot scheme to detect deer on public roads to reduce collisions will be rolled out in Kerry next month. Experts believe the number of deer in Kerry has increased significantly in recent years, with deer paths created far from the traditional location at Killarney National Park. There is no national strategy to reduce the number of deer wandering onto roads, and the Kerry pilot schemes will be used as a template for a national strategy by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Technology used to reduce bird strikes on airplanes and an innovative detect-and-alert scheme in place in Austria are set to be deployed as part of the Kerry project. Sika, introduced from Japan in the 19th century, along with native red deer, almost extinct in the 1960s, are estimated to number in the thousands now in Killarney and surrounding areas, with road collisions occurring on an almost daily basis. Injured deer are a regular occurrence and there have been calls for increased signage near established deer paths, as well as a central number for the public to report injured deer. Frank Hartnett, Kerry's director of roads, outlined how the new project will take place over six months before its effectiveness will be reviewed. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has ruled out requests to erect fencing at accident prone spots as unfeasible. Chief executive of Kerry County Council Fearghal Reidy confirmed two "advanced technology pilot schemes" would be rolled out. A 'detection and alert' scheme will be delivered on the outskirts of Killarney on the N70 near Ballydowney, where a large number of deer cross the road between the National Park and nearby agricultural land. The second initiative, the 'deterrent system', is a joint initiative between Kerry County Council, University College Cork and the minister of state at the Department of Agriculture, Michael Healy-Rae. It utilises technology to identify deer approaching busy roads. An audible alarm is then activated to discouraged the deer from crossing the road when vehicles are present. This scheme will be initially trialled on the R569 between Kilgarvan and the N22 Killarney to Cork Road. University College Cork will monitor both schemes, collating the data and analysing its effectiveness. This article was funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Government funding for renovating vacant council homes in Kerry town half what is needed, council told
Government funding for council-owned housing that is vacated and has to be fixed before being re-let is less than half what is required, a council meeting in Tralee has heard. Kerry has one of the worst records when it comes to the length of time it takes to turn around council houses. In 2024, it took about 64 weeks on average to relet council properties. The meeting of Tralee Municipal District heard there was huge demand for social housing in Tralee, and there was large and unmet demand for affordable housing. The figure for approved applications who have selected an area in the Tralee Municipal District and other areas as a choice stands at 2,364, the meeting heard. The net need for housing in Tralee is 1,257, and this excludes transfers. More than a dozen properties in Tralee are formally on the derelict sites register, with another dozen likely to be added. Other properties, some prominent commercial sites, also lie vacant and are in a poor state, the meeting heard. As of June 24, a total of 15 properties within Tralee town are formally entered on the Derelict Sites Register, according to a written reply to councillors. 'In addition, active case files are ongoing in respect of a further 13 properties, which are presently under assessment,' it added. 'In addition, through proactive engagement with property owners under the Derelict Sites Act, some 11 properties have been successfully removed from dereliction and returned to active use.' The average spend per vacant house by the council in Kerry is €22,484. The grant allocation from the Department of Housing for each house is generally about €11,000. But where properties that have been worked on have to be turned over a second time, the council is not funded by the Department of Housing. 'The department does not fund a second void,' Vincent Horgan, senior engineer in the council housing section told the meeting. The department's view was the council should be using its rental incomes for a lot of the works, he said. In a given year, Kerry County Council would be allocated funding for 50 to 60 voids, but this could vary. 'Every year is different. It is hard to plan a voids programme when you are not sure what funding you are going to get any given year,' Mr Horgan said. This article was funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
Irish Examiner
27-06-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Kerry council to roll out pilot scheme to detect deer on roads in bid to prevent accidents
Authorities are rolling out new technology in Killarney to tackle collisions with 'marauding deer' whose numbers are out of control. The "deer pilot schemes" are needed in a county which suffers more deer collisions than most, a meeting of Killarney Municipal District was told. A 'detect and alert' scheme, which has been effective in Austria, is to be rolled out on a trial basis. 'It detects deer, it detects vehicles,' Frank Hartnett, director of roads services with Kerry County Council, said. A noise deterring deer is emitted when both vehicles and deer are detected — when there is no car passing the deer could continue to cross the road, he said. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has previously said requests by the council — and by the late south Kerry coroner Terence Casey — to erect fencing in accident prone spots, were unfeasible. A number of fatalities and some serious injuries have been linked to deer in the Killarney area. There is no national strategy to tackle deer on roads and Mr Hartnett had put forward Killarney for the pilot schemes to the Transport Infrastructure Network, on the grounds of road safety. In a second scheme, technology used to deter bird strikes in airports is also being rolled out. The pilot schemes are being operated by Kerry County Council and are in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and University College Cork, the meeting heard. If successful, the schemes will be adopted in other counties where there is risk from road collisions with deer. The deterrent system used in airports is expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks, subject to GDPR approval on the R569 Kilgarvan Road off the N22 at a point where deer are known to cross. The detection and deterrent scheme will be put in place in Ballydowney on the N70 on the outskirts of Killarney, where deer cross from the national park woodland to farmland. Several collisions, including two fatalities in which two women lost their lives, are suspected to have involved collisions with deer at and near Ballydowney. Cllr John O'Donoghue of Kerry Independent Alliance welcomed the announcement of the technology. He said he was 'sick' of raising accidents involving deer and he had come across how technology had been used elsewhere. 'The problem is not improving. No one is accepting responsibility for the deer," Cllr O'Donoghue said. This article was funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
Sunday World
27-06-2025
- Sunday World
Councillors shocked at footage of naked man outside asylum centre
Video footage of the incident shot by bystanders from the footpath and from passing vehicles has been widely spread on social media since it happened on Saturday, June 14. District councillors in Wicklow have called for greater lines of communication with the local engagement team after a man was recently found running naked outside an asylum centre in the town. Video footage of the incident shot by bystanders from the footpath and from passing vehicles has been widely spread on social media since it happened on Saturday, June 14. The footage captures a completely nude male running along the middle of the road outside the IPAS centre at the Grand Hotel. He appears to be in a disorientated and agitated state. The Grand Hotel in Wicklow town. Photo: Michael Kelly News in 90 Seconds - June 27th Speaking during the June meeting of Wicklow Municipal District, independent councillor John Snell called on his district colleagues to work collectively to help alleviate concerns when these incidents happen. He stressed the need for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide information about what happened to the individual in question and asked newly elected cathaoirleach Graham Richmond to write to the relevant Minister seeking clarity on the matter. He also raised concern about how the footage appeared online before elected representatives were informed about what happened and suggested a better strategy is needed to monitor certain comments and activities online. In agreement councillor Paul O'Brien issued a word of caution about how the issue is dealt with and cited the difficulty in trying to manage social media accounts and open forums. Councillor Gail Dunne added it was important that residents in the town feel safe and that such incidents don't become a common reoccurrence. The male in question has since been arrested for public order offences and was brought to Wicklow Garda Station, where he was held in custody. He was charged with several offences, which are due before the courts. He is currently receiving care at Newcastle Hospital after being sectioned under the mental health act. Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
Irish Independent
27-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Louth's historic Millmount museum set for major upgrade
Plans for the extensive upgrade have been welcomed by local councillor, Ejiro O'Hare Stratton, who highlighted a 'growing and productive partnership between Millmount Museum and Louth County Council, a relationship that has flourished over the past year and is now delivering tangible benefits for Drogheda.' 'I am pleased to confirm that €50,600 has been allocated under the Community Recognition Fund for enhancement works to Governor's House, a key part of the museum complex.' She welcomed further funding successes including nine government grants, totalling €130,000, awarded to support the museum's ongoing development and €140,000 secured by Louth County Council to restore the historic stone wall along the walkway to Millmount Tower. The project will be delivered by McGuigan Stone Masons of Cavan, with works starting in early July. 'In addition to a €6,000 grant to modernise the museum's library archiving system, there is a new annual financial contribution from Louth County Council to support the museum's long-term sustainability.' Cllr. Hare Stratton outlined the plans to improve facilities at Millmount museum including an upgrade to windows, new bathrooms and a redecorated lecture hall along with a modernised kitchen, a full IT systems upgrade and integration with the new heating system installed last year. She acknowledged the role of Louth County Council's new Chief Executiv,e David Conway, whose support she says 'has brought renewed energy and commitment to the project.' 'This marks a turning point for Millmount. At a time when national tourism is facing challenges, we are seeing resilience, investment, and optimism right here in Drogheda. This is about partnership — between the museum, the Old Drogheda Society, and Louth County Council. It is very positive news for our heritage, our local economy, and our wider community.' Cllr Ejiro OHare also paid tribute to Mr. John McCullen, President of the Old Drogheda Society, for his 'unwavering leadership, and to the incredible team behind the scenes, their dedication and passion are the driving forces behind this success.' 'With morale high, strategic investment underway, and visitor numbers holding steady despite national trends, Millmount Museum is on course to thrive, and to shine as a cultural landmark in the northeast of Ireland.' Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
