Plan finally agreed for river project in Kilkenny town
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A DETAILED design for work on the King’s River in Callan has been agreed, allowing the long-awaited project to progress to the next stage.
However, it will be summer 2027 at the earliest before any work can take place.
At the recent meeting of Callan Thomastown Municipal District councillors, Area Engineer Declan Murphy said an agreement has been reached between Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
Mr Murphy said an AA Screening Report was underway and due for completion shortly. He said, as it is proposed to do work in the river that could affect habitats, it is expected the result of this would be that a Stage 2 assessment will be required (a Natura Impact Statement - NIS). This will be followed by submission of the plan to An Coimisiún Pleanála for approval.
Kilkenny County Council is following the required process, he said, and the project is moving forward.
Cllr Joe Lyons said it was good to see the work moving along. He asked about the timeline for the NIS and was told that had not been pinned down yet. He asked Mr Murphy to ‘keep the pressure on’.
Cllr Stephanie Doheny told the meeting that in 2017 the full Kilkenny County Council had agreed to hold a meeting of all agencies to discuss the King’s River. She asked if that could be done soon.
She also asked if the council could liaise with the King’s River Committee to keep them up-to-date “because they haven’t a clue what’s going on”.
However, this was clarified by Meeting Administrator, Anne Marie Shortall, who said it was wrong to say this was the same project referenced in 2017.
This current project is being planned and carried out under a different funding stream, under Town and Village Renewal, she said. It has a process the council has to follow and they can’t make it go any faster.
She also told the meeting she has been communicating with the King’s River Committee any time they contacted her.
Project updates have also frequently been made to meetings of Callan Thomastown municipal district committee meetings.
Area Engineer Declan Murphy offered to arrange a workshop for councillors with consultants involved in the project and, possibly, a presentation to a meeting.