Cork County Council assessing potential for dredging Kinsale Harbour  

Cork County Council is assessing the environmental surveys, licensing and potential timeline for dredging Kinsale Harbour, with an update expected within six weeks.

The move comes after the issue was again raised at a recent Western Division meeting by Social Democrats councillor Ann Bambury, who has warned that silting at Kinsale Yacht Club (KYC) Marina is affecting access, safety, sailing and tourism.

Independent councillor Alan Coleman also raised the difficulty of progressing dredging projects, including the need for funding, agreements and statutory consents.

Brendan Meagher, acting county engineer, said the council had been working on the Kinsale issue in recent weeks.

Environmental survey

“We’ll be looking at the scope of this and the timelines, the environmental survey that could be done and the marine licence,” he said.

“It’s something we’re looking at actively at the moment and hopefully within the next four to six weeks, I’ll have a better idea of all that.” 

Silting in the harbour has been a long-running concern for KYC and other harbour users. 

Ms Bambury previously told the division that declining water depth around the marina berths, fairway and slipway was restricting safe access for deeper-keeled boats. She said the issue could deter visiting sailors and place growing tidal limits on the club’s sailing, training and junior programmes.

Scoping exercise

Kinsale Yacht Club is a significant part of Kinsale’s visitor economy, hosting sailing events and welcoming visiting boats to the town. The council previously carried out a scoping exercise on the harbour, but no dredging scheme has yet been brought forward.

The latest update means the authority is now examining the surveys and consents needed before it can establish what work may be required and how it could be progressed.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.