Kerry council motion to propose An Taisce lose €3m State funding

A motion is coming before Kerry County Council today seeking for An Taisce to lose the almost €3 million it receives on State funding because of perceived overzealousness in overseeing the planning process.

Former mayor of Kerry, Séamus Cosaí­ Fitzgerald, a Fine Gael councillor in Dingle, is calling on councillors to ask that “all State funding” be withdrawn from the heritage organisation and all private donations be published.

The move comes amid concern in west Kerry over An Taisce’s ongoing legal challenges holding up the N86 the main road to Dingle.

An Bord Pleanála held an oral hearing in May 2012 into the plans for the widening and straightening of 28km of the road.

Planning was granted in November 2014. However, the €65 million project has been stalled since because of legal challenges by An Taisce, which is currently seeking to overturn a High Court dismissal.

Accounts for An Taisce show the bulk of its public funds are used for such initiatives as Green Schools, Blue Flag and Irish Business against Litter campaigns.