Fears are growing in Co Kerry that Sceilg Mhichíl may not open for visitors this season.
Boat operators say they have yet to be issued with the necessary Office of Public Works permits to land on the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Boat trips to land visitors on the monastic rock were expected to commence in just over a week, but legal proceedings have been taken by a number of operators in relation to the permits.
The OPW, which oversees the management of Sceilg Mhichíl, issues landing permits to 15 boat operators.
Total visitor numbers on the rock is limited to 180 people each day. However, difficult sea and weather conditions significantly reduces the number of days when it is possible to land.
It is understood the process of issuing landing permits for Sceilg Mhichíl has been stalled due to this High Court challenge, which is centred on a public competition which was held in awarding this season’s permits.
Sceilg Mhichíl was expected to open on 10 May. However, the OPW has yet to indicate if this will now happen.
Tourism interests in south Kerry say they have been left “in limbo”.
James Murphy of the Skellig Coast Tourism Network says the lack of communication from the OPW is worrying.
He said: ‘The Skellig Rock is our lifeblood. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and any delay affects us massively. Boat operators, B and Bs, restaurants, everyone’s affected by it, even the shops. If it doesn’t open we’re in trouble.
“All we want is a bit of clarity. As a group which represents over 130 businesses in the area, we’ve heard nothing from the OPW.
“The boatmen have no clarity and the rest of us are left in limbo as well.”
“If permits aren’t issued it’s going to affect income, it’s going to affect jobs. If it doesn’t open, come next year there could be business closed because of it. Our survival relies on the summer, that’s when we make our money and we need Sceilg to be open,” he added.
Last year, a public competition for licences was advertised. This was the first occasion the e-tender process had been used.
However, that competition was cancelled by the OPW due to “procedural error” and temporary permits for the 2024 season were issued to 15 existing boat operators.
Following its most recent public competition for the 2025 permits, the OPW issued a list of 15 successful candidates.
Three existing operators failed to secure permits. These operators have raised concerns in relation to the criteria and nature of the tendering process and have sought a judicial review in the High Court.
While boat trips around Sceilg Mhichíl and its sister-rock, Sceilg Bheag, will continue unhindered, local councillor Norma Moriarty says all efforts should be made to allow landings on the World Heritage site.
She said: “The jewel in the crown is accessing the rock and we could potentially be losing a whole season of access is potentially devastating and we can’t have that.
“The OPW have a precedent. They have over the last number of years issued temporary permits to ensure we have access to the rock. That option is there to them while this judicial review process unfolds and takes it course.
“No one knows what the result of that will be, but what we cannot have is a season lost because it would be devastating to the local economy, but also to the wider tourism offering as a country.”
The OPW has yet to indicate its plans for Sceilg Mhichil this season.
In a brief response to a number of queries the OPW said: “The Office of Public Works conducted a public competition to award permits to land on Sceilg Mhichíl.
“This competition is now subject to legal proceedings and as such the Office of Public Works cannot comment.”
Yesterday in the Dáil, Kerry TD Michael Cahill called for the issuing of 18 permits as a temporary solution.
The Fianna Fáil TD told the chamber: “They would be confined to ten passengers each, keeping in line with the cap of 180, to ensure the season operates for the good of all concerned, on a one-season-only basis and with full licences to be reverted to in 2026.
“This is exceedingly important to bed and breakfast accommodation, guesthouses, hotels restaurants, bars and coffee shops all over south Kerry. This needs to be resolved.”
In response, Tánaiste Simon Harris said it was important to assist visits to “such a beautiful treasure and an amazing place” and that he would speak to the Minister of State for the OPW, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, on the issue.
