Kenny accuses Ahern over marina project

The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, yesterday sharply attacked the funding of a marina project in south Kerry.

He said: "The Taoiseach has allocated €750,000 for a project, half of which has been demolished, as it did not comply with planning permission.

"Is this not an abuse of power? Is this the creation of a political slush fund for political patronage by him and is an insult to the people of the country?"

Mr Kenny said that "funds were dispatched for a marine infrastructure in Kenmare, Co Kerry, despite the fact that on December 4th, 2000, the assistant secretary of the Department of the Marine, in a memo to the secretary, said that the Taoiseach was anxious that a letter would be issued without delay, and that he took the view that such a letter issuing without appraisal of the project involved would involve a letter of comfort which could result in legal claims against the Department subsequently."

The drafting of the letter, he added, was conducted by the Taoiseach's programme manager.

He added that the programme manager, Mr Gerry Hickey, had stated: "This is type of letter you need for the Kenmare marina project. Would you please see if Minister Fahey [then Minister for the Marine] will sign and issue it?"

Mr Kenny claimed that the Independent TD for Kerry South, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, had the letter changed, on his insistence, to read: "I believe that the project would be eligible for funding so I agree that the project will receive funding."

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said that tourism was massively important to the country. "We take over €4 billion in tourism revenue.

"All our national development tourism operational projects try to improve the infrastructure in tourism and in this case, that equally happened with four other projects. It is proper that it happens.

"There is not a project under the national development plan that deputies are not supporting."

He added: "I cannot walk the corridors of this House but TDs of all parties are lobbying me about capital projects. Let us stop this hypocrisy."

Mr Ahern said that he would remind Mr Kenny that the State got "six point one million visitors every year, that €4 billion in foreign revenue earnings come out of tourism, that the industry employs 140,000 people in this country and tourism is massively important.

"Kenmare is one of our best tourist resorts."

Mr Ahern said that all national development tourism operational projects tried to improve the infrastructure in tourism.

He said that the project, which he and the Government were supportive of, was part of four projects in 2000, one in Kenmare, Cahirciveen, Rosses Points and Roundstone.

A total of €5.7 million was allocated.

Mr Ahern insisted the initial examination indicated the proposal scored highly.

He added it was Mr Hickey who had written a note on a letter from Mr Fahey.

"Kenmare is one of the finest places in this country and has one of the best tourism centres.

"It has been involved in tourism for 110 years and I am glad to see we are trying to do something for tourism in Kenmare," Mr Ahern said.