George Lawlor: Urgent action demanded to save Kelly's Hotel
George Lawlor raised an urgent coastal erosion crisis at Rosslare Strand, warning that the family-run Kelly's Hotel faces serious risk if another winter of storms hits. He called for emergency works before the summer and said a minor works scheme will be fast-tracked after talks with Wexford County Council.
Immediate threat to Rosslare Strand
George Lawlor told the Dáil that Rosslare Strand, particularly the area beside the iconic Kelly's Hotel, faces rapid erosion. He reminded colleagues that 7.5 million euro was allocated in 2018 for coastal protection but remains at the planning stage, and warned the strand "will not sustain another winter of storms."
Government response and next steps
Lawlor said he and his team have met Wexford County Council and asked them to fast-forward a minor works scheme. He sought a commitment that emergency remedial works will commence before the summer and pledged that action on the ground will be visible in the coming weeks.
Local consequences and economic risk
The TD stressed the local economic consequences if the hotel and strand are lost, describing Kelly's as a 131-year family-run business. He warned of an "economic catastrophe" for Rosslare Strand if the erosion continues unchecked.
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Tánaiste, I want to raise with you an urgent and rapidly evolving situation with coastal erosion in Rosslare Strand. As you know, County Wexford is suffering more than many counties with coastal erosion as we move along and I'm glad also to see that Minister Boxer-Moran is in the chamber also the both of you could give a response to this because we have a crisis in Rosslare Strand at the moment and particularly in the area adjoining Kelly's Hotel, the famous iconic Kelly's Hotel, a family-run hotel of some 131 years in existence. Mr Bill Kelly has stated that the hotel will become under serious pressure if we endure another winter. Now it has to be said that seven and a half million euro was made available in 2018 for coastal protection works on the strand however it's still a planning stage. The strand and this area of the strand will not sustain another winter of storms and we will be in the situation of an economic catastrophe for the area of Rosslare Strand because of the impact that this will have on Kelly's Hotel. Can I ask you to give a commitment that emergency works will take place before the summer? Before I take that question, I want to raise an issue that's been continuously raised here in the Dáil, referring to us as lackeys. Now if anyone in this house, if I stood up and called them a lackey, would feel it and I'd have to apologize. We represent a group that went into government. I represent the people of Longthorce Mead that elected me not as a lackey. So I'd ask you Clare Curragh, when it's referred to in the house anymore, correct them. The name calling has to be called out. But in relation to the issue that was raised today, can I say that I've met with Wexford County Council in recent weeks gone by. I've also, my team has met with them in the last few days and there is an emergency in question in Kelly's Hotel. What we've asked them now is to fast forward in relation to a minor work scheme that we'll fund in the near future. And this is something that's going to happen imminently. They'll be back into my department and we will rescue that area of the beach that's in question. And I know the vulnerability that's at stake. I also know that in terms of the hotel and the suffering that people are suffering down there. But I can assure you in the next few weeks you'll see action on the ground. Thank you.
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