Councillors Approve Sale Of Land At Island Of Geese For New Courthouse

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The site at the Island of Geese which will be sold.

KERRY County Councillors have approved the sale of a piece of land at the Island of Geese to the Courts Services of Ireland for the purpose of constructing a new Courthouse in a project estimated to cost €22m.

The approval took place at the monthly meeting of Kerry County Council this afternoon. Each of the councillors had a chance to express their viewpoint before the vote. The result was 28 for the sale, four against, with one councillor absent.

All councillors recognised that the current facilities at the Courthouse on Ashe Street are not fit for purpose. The seven Tralee Municipal District Councillors were split on the issue of the sale.

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Cllr Sam Locke (Ind) and Cllr Johnnie Wall (FF) were against the sale and called for it to be postponed to allow for the Courts Service to meet with An Post to discuss the possibility of purchasing a building on Ashe Street to develop new Courts facilities.

Cllr Deirdre Ferris (SF) also voted against, as she wanted an absolute commitment before the vote that the Courthouse on Ashe Street would be taken over and utilised and not be left idle for years, thus damaging existing businesses in that area.

Cllr Cathal Foley (SF), Cllr Mikey Sheehy (FF), Cllr Jim Finucane (FG) and Cllr Terry O’Brien (Lab) voted for the sale.

Cllr Cathal Foley said the site in question was always designated for commercial use and was never meant to be a community park. He said if a new Courthouse was built outside of the town centre it would be a disaster for Tralee. He said with the An Post building on Ashe Street unavailable, this was the best option.

Cllr Terry O’Brien said it was the only way to go as there was a need for a proper Courthouse facility. He said the Council needs to establish a working group to liaise with the Courts Service regarding the use of the Courthouse on Ashe Street when the services move.

Cllr Jim Finucane said An Post have stated clearly that they have no intention of selling their building on Ashe Street. He said the alternative suggestions for new courts facilities located elsewhere were ‘nonsensical’.

The Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Mikey Sheehy, said it was important to look at the facts and not “ifs, buts or maybes”. He said this was about protecting jobs, protecting services and providing a modern and efficient Courts service in the town.

The 0.2 hectare of land will be sold for €160,000. Chief Executive of Kerry County Council Moira Murrell explained that when there is a transfer of property from one state agency to another, they are bound by the valuation of the Valuation Office, the Government of Ireland’s national valuation service provider, who made the valuation.

Ms Morrell also said the Council had received assurances that the Courts Service will not allow the Courthouse on Ashe Street to go into disrepair and will be maintained.

The Courts Service said they will work with Kerry County Council on any future developments or plans at the Courthouse on Ashe Street.

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