A Killarney councillor has sought legal advice in relation to Kerry County Council's Safe Streets measures.
Some councillors in the Killarney Municipal District voiced their concern at the monthly meeting, following Kerry County Council's decision to extend measures into January of next year.
The Safe Streets plan includes a number of measures, including continued pedestrianisation and the widening of footpaths to facilitate social distancing.
MD Manager Angela McAllen, who provided a report on the matter, says a number of submissions were received on the new measures, including concerns over: a lack of taxi space, people slipping off the footpaths, impact on traffic flow, removal of street parking and the effects on emergency services.
Following consideration of these, the council extended road closures for Plunkett Street and Kenmare Place until January 6th.
At the meeting, the council read out a letter from the solicitor of Independent councillor Donal Grady, who is seeking for streets to return to what existed prior to the measures.
He also said most of the COVID-19 cases are coming from homes, not the streets.
Cathaoirleach Brendan Cronin questioned the council's powers to extend the measures to January; the council replied that everything was within statutory powers.
The majority of councillors in the MD took issue, not with the ultimate decision to extend, but the perceived manner in which they did it.
Cathaoirleach Cronin said public health is the number one priority, the country is in the middle of a pandemic and, furthermore, the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce says most business owners are in favour of the Safe Streets measures.
