ESB workers should be given ‘safe and timely access to forestry plantations’ to repair storm damage says South Sligo councillor

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

The potential for customers to experience lengthy power outages, as was the case in January following Storm Eowyn, remains a concern with Cllr Liam Brennan’s motion before the December meeting of Sligo County Council calling for the local authority to “Write to Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Martin Hayden and Minister of State, Michael Healy Rae, to engage with ESB Networks to develop a solution allowing ESB personnel safe and timely access to repair power lines and maintain required corridor widths in forestry plantations.”

The motion also called for “ESB personnel be authorised to access forestry lands in cases where landowners cannot be contacted.”

Cllr Brennan’s motion expressed the hope that such measures would “Significantly reduce power outages and speed up repair times.”

Cllr Gerard Mullaney expressed a note of caution when he said, “I think legislation is needed. There are a number of issues that need to be worked on to get the whole network fit for purpose.”

Cllr Barry Gallagher asked if it would be possible and ESB representative to meet with elected representatives “To give us an update. Forestry land is being planted to the old legislation, this needs to be highlighted.”

Cllr Brennan noted, “We are a long way away yet from the corridor width being widened.”

In a separate motion, Cllr Brennan proposed that “Sligo County Council write to ESB requesting that they provide a direct contact line for elected members to report and receive updates on faults and outages in local areas, similar to the system provided by Uisce Éireann. Local representatives receive a large volume of calls during power outages and timely information would ensure that communities are not left without updates during power outages.”

Addressing the Council Chamber in regard to the motion, Cllr Brennan said, “When there are power outages you are talking about four or five Councillors that will be making calls. Customers deserve that information, it is not a big task to provide that information.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.