Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
303. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total amount of public funding spent to date on the hire of a WC facility on An Bhlascaod Mór; the duration of the current contract; if he will provide a breakdown of costs by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11545/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra304. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation when the current contract for the provision of WC facilities on An Bhlascaod Mór is due to expire; whether it is intended to be renewed; on what basis any renewal decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11546/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra305. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the OPW has plans to construct or otherwise provide a permanent, State-owned WC facility for visitors to An Bhlascaod Mór; the estimated cost of such a facility; the proposed timeline for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11547/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra306. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the OPW will provide funding to upgrade the slipway and landing facilities on An Bhlascaod Mór; whether any assessments or feasibility studies have been carried out to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11548/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 303, 304, 305 and 306 together.
An Blascaod Mór is the largest island of the Blasket islands, an archipelago located off the coast of west Kerry. The island is nationally significant due to the important literary and cultural output of its tiny community in the first half of the 20th century and the substantial collection of books, nearly 100 in all, written about life on the Blasket Islands in the past century. An Blascaod Mór forms part of the Blasket Islands Special Area of Conservation and the State-owned lands on the island now form part of Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí.
The Office of Public Works (OPW)’s involvement with An Blascaod Mór goes back to 1988. Ionad an Bhlascaoid, (the Blasket Centre) was developed with the assistance of locally-based voluntary group, Fondúíreacht an Bhlascaoid and officially opened in April 1994.
The State purchased the majority of the holdings on the island in 2009 and the OPW has restored a number of the houses on the island since, including the home of pre-eminent Blasket author, Tomás Ó Criomhthain. A €1.2 million clifftop Wild Atlantic Way Viewing Platform on the Blasket Centre site opened in 2020 and provides an accessible viewing point for visitors. A strategic partnership between the OPW, Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage enabled a major €2.9 million upgrade of the Blasket Centre that opened in 2022.
The OPW is focused on conserving and protecting An Blascaod Mór while providing facilities so visitors can appreciate and enjoy the Island. Recognising the importance of toilets and shelter for visitors, since 2023 the OPW has entered into arrangements with a private provider of existing facilities on the island to provide facilities and to maintain, clean and stock them. The latest contract in expired on 30 September 2025 and it is intended that a new arrangement will shortly be in place for 2026.
In terms of permanent welfare facilities for visitors, work is also underway. Developing such facilities is challenging given the high level of environmental and archaeological protections is in place. The Island village is a designated site of archaeological and of major heritage significance. There are specific planning considerations for the Island in the Kerry County Development Plan. The requirement for adequate water supply, sanitation and sewage disposal are central to any public toilet provision.
The OPW continues to plan for improved landing facilities on An Blascaod Mór. Planning permission for a pier was previously granted in 2003, however, there have been significant changes in the designated status of the Island and environmental regulations in the intervening period and as such any new infrastructure will require an entirely new set of consents.
The OPW commissioned a suite of environmental and ecological reports to underpin this process which were completed in 2025. These studies highlighted the importance of balancing the protection of the biodiversity of the island with the provision of safer landing facilities.
The project is now at Feasibility stage. Engineering / design consultants were appointed in November 2025 to identify any further surveys required as part of the planning process, and to produce a feasibility report with an options appraisal for improvement to the landings at An Blascaod Mór and Dún Chaoin. This feasibility report is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
