Local boat docking rules need 'urgent review' say Tipperary councillors

Councillors have called for a review of boat docking rules in Killaloe and Ballina, warning that current arrangements are discouraging tourism and leaving valuable harbour space sitting empty during the busy summer season.

Cllr Joe Hannigan said local boat owners and visitors were being caught by rules.

"What's happening at the moment is that boats are moving from the Inland Waterways area, where they can only stay for five days, across to the council-owned quay where they remain for much longer," he said. "At the same time, there's a canal area that's completely empty. The rules simply don't make sense."

Cllr Hannigan said the situation meant valuable docking facilities were lying idle while other areas became congested.

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"We're talking about tourism here. People are coming into the area, spending money in local businesses, and we need to make them feel welcome," he said.

Cllr Hannigan also called for improved facilities for people arriving with boats by trailer.

"We need to up the ante in providing parking for people bringing boats to the lake. They launch their boats and then have nowhere suitable to leave their jeep and trailer. We need a proper plan to welcome these visitors."

Cllr Michael O'Meara agreed that the issue had become increasingly frustrating, saying it had been raised repeatedly over a number of years.

"When I first became a councillor, you'd regularly see cruisers coming into Ballina from Banagher and further up the Shannon," he said.

"Those visitors brought valuable business into the town. Something has gone wrong over the last ten years. We need as much tourism as possible. We need to get people coming in on cruisers, spending time in Ballina and Killaloe and supporting local businesses."

Cllr Hannigan stressed that his concern was not with boats legitimately moored for the summer but with regulations that left parts of the harbour underused.

"I'm not talking about boats that are there for the season," he said.

"I'm talking about having a whole harbour sitting empty because of a rule that doesn't make sense, while people are forced somewhere else where they're preventing other visitors from docking."

Members agreed the issue required further engagement with Inland Waterways Ireland to ensure local harbour facilities were being used effectively, while continuing to support tourism along the Shannon.