A ban has been imposed on housing developments in one of Ireland's fastest growing and most popular tourist towns, Kenmare, Co Kerry, because of concerns about the town's water supply.
Council officials had their fingers crossed that it would continue to rain this summer to prevent a drought, a meeting of Kerry County Council heard yesterday.
Kenmare, a former winner of the national Tidy Towns competition, has seen its population surge by 30 per cent over the past decade. Huge numbers of holiday and second-home developments now encircle the town.
Plans for what is effectively a new town on the seaward side of Kenmare are before An Bord Pleanála and a decision is expected shortly.
However, Kenmare's water supply is often inadequate and insufficient. Now Kerry County Council has called a halt to further growth in Kenmare.
No developments and no housing schemes are being given planning permission, and only "the odd in-fill house" is getting the go-ahead, Oliver Ring, the director of water services, told councillors yesterday.
Development in Kenmare was "closed down completely", he replied to questions from the mayor of Kerry, Cllr Michael Healy-Rae. "And we have our fingers crossed we don't get a completely dry summer," Mr Ring added.
Kenmare had no water treatment plant and the council was "absolutely vulnerable" to drought, Mr Ring said.