‘They’re getting away with murder’ — Wexford taxpayers left footing the bill as utility companies refuse to reinstate damaged roads
Wexford PeopleWexford County Council (WCC) is being forced to spend taxpayer’s money to repair roads left unfinished by utility and telecommunications companies.
The district engineer for the Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD) Neil Dempsey said it has become a “full-time job” chasing up companies who have installed underground cables in the county and not returned to restore the roads to their previous condition.
“It’s a full-time job chasing them, you could spend 12 hours a day trying to contact them,” he said at the monthly meeting of the EMD. “There was a Virgin Media manhole which collapsed, we were chasing them for six months. Eir are the same.
“And we’re left picking up the bill. They just don’t care. The same goes for overhead cables, they’ll tie back the branches, they won’t fix them.”
Mr Dempsey was responding to queries from Councillors Trish Byrne and John O’Rourke both of whom highlighted the additional burdens being placed on WCC as a result of unfinished roadworks.
“Do we have someone checking to make sure the roads are fully reinstated when the works are complete?” asked Cllr Byrne. “It’s shocking in some places.”
“A lot of footpaths which had underground cables installed by BT or Eir are beginning to collapse,” added Cllr O’Rourke. “When we contact them to inform them of the condition of these footpaths they don’t want to know. And we’re getting it in the neck from the residents.”
Accepting that, in some instances, the companies had to wait up to a year to return to reinstate the roads, Cllr O’Rourke said many simply chose not to finish what they started.
“I know there’s a period of time that you have to allow the paths and roads to set, but mother of divine Christ in some of the areas there’s dip and corners left unfinished, they don’t ever seem to come back and reinstate the roads,” he said.
“It’s time we took a stance on this and told them, ‘you come in and do the work and put it back the way it was’. They’re getting away with murder and the taxpayer is footing the bill.”
Having grown tired of giving chase to these companies, Mr Dempsey suggested the councillors join forces and use their collective power to make the culprits take note.
“I would encourage councillors to contact Uisce Éireann. Fire them an email, I know you won’t get a response.”
“You will, but from Japan or somewhere,” replied Cllr O’Rourke.
“If enough of us are beating the drum they’ll have to start listening eventually,” said Mr Dempsey.
Ultimately, according to Cathaoirleach Pat Kehoe, this was an issue of respect and courtesy, or lack thereof.
“Respect should be given to the district engineer,” he said. “These companies are obviously planning these works well in advance - unless it’s an emergency situation - so they should have the courtesy to let our engineer know about it.”