Laois councillors castigate Coillte and Uisce Éireann following storm Éowyn

CLLR Ben Brennan took aim at Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) and Coillte at the January meeting of Laois County Council.

He said: “When you get a call from council staff at Christmas saying that there’s only a meter of water left in the reservoir in Crettyard and we could have to cut back or turn the water off on Christmas Day. And with all the water that’s falling and all the wells that have been bored and lying idle and won’t connect to the reservoir, is beyond me. We’re still drawing water from Wolfhill, which doesn’t make sense. Water is not being pumped from The Swan up to Crettyard.

“And then Irish Water comes on television and tell us of the great work they’re doing. It’s a very simple thing that they could do and that’s bring all the connections to the reservoir in Crettyard and put in a treatment system that would cost very little. If they did that it would supply nearly all of Laois with the supply of water that could be in it. It’s just so ridiculous, conserving water in the middle of winter. They’re people coming back and hammering me over this, and they’re fully entitled to.” 

He then turned his attention to Coillte, the state owned forestry company.

He said: “We (council) seem to be doing their work for them. A lot of trees fell during the last storm and snow events and the council had to go out and clear the roads. That’s not right. Coillte should be clearing the roads themselves. While I complement the council staff for doing the work, but I hope that Coillte is being billed for it. Because it’s Coillte owned property that falls across the roads and it’s Coillte that should clear it.” 

He said: “During the storm we had three-foot of snow on it and the council was out to support the people. The council needs more staff, because we have to prepare for the next storm. And, it’s coming. We’re getting to the state where we’ll probably get probably six inches to a meter of snow and we have to be prepared for that.” 

Cllr Barry Walsh asked could generators be provided to group water scheme committees in the event of power outages during severe adverse weather conditions.

Cllr Paddy Bracken said; “There are no back up generations for the pumping stations. Surely as an organisation and all the money Irish water has, they should be able to invest in this type of infrastructure to be on standby for these weather events. It was frightening for a lot of people as well as for the patients in the hospital in Mountmellick. We can see that these type of weather events will keep happening. So surely Irish Water should look at something.” 

Cllr Ollie Clooney said: “We don’t have to have a storm for the electricity to go. We can have a blast of wind and the power is gone. The Electricity company is making huge profits and the Government is doing well out of them.

“The trees are too close to the wires, so if there’s a little bit of wind at all the wires are down, the power is out and everyone is inconvenienced. Next year could be the same again. Something has to be done about the trees that are near roads and wires and poising a danger. We have to learn lessons from the storm. If we can believe the experts we’re going to get more of them.” 

He said: “Somebody has to shake the ESB up. I’ve seen where wires are going through trees or trees are nearly touching the wires. It’s not good enough because when a storm comes, everyone is inconvenienced. It goes on and on and no one says stop and do something about it. These trees will have to be looked at seriously.” 

Director of services at the council Simon Walton said: “Generators won’t solve all the lack of electrical supply issues that currently prevail in the network.” 

Regarding cllr Brennan’s queries about Coillte Mr Walton said: “During the recent storm event, the priority for the council was to protect people’s safety. There were approximately 120 trees down across the county. Our focus was on who to prioritise the clearing of the trees. So that the impact on local communities could be minimised. Our challenge was to get all the main routes cleared, including private landowners trees that had fallen. Some trees were our responsibility, others were statutory bodies, such as Coillte.

“We don’t consider those things when we’re in the recovery stage following severe weather events. We just clear the road network as quickly as we can to enable life to get back to normal and to protect people’s safety.” 

Mr Walton said: “There has been significant costs incurred by local authorities in terms of the recent storm and snow events. It is possible that the council will recover some of those costs from the state.

“But, we regularly speak to Coillte as well as local landowners to encourage them to keep their roadside boundaries well maintained. As regards of recovery of costs. That still remains to be seen.” 

Cllr Brennan said: “During the snow along one of our roads (in the Graiguecullen area) there were 60 trees down. The council spent three days clearing that road. That’s unfair to expect the council to pay staff for three days to clear the road of Coillte trees. The council should go after Coillte.” 

Cathaoirleach of the council cllr Pádraig Fleming said that a lot of trees are still being planted just in off roadside ditches.

He asked is there plans in place should Coillte seek approval in the future to set up forests and to limit tree planting well back 40 or 50 yards from roadsides.

Mr Walton said that as far as he was aware there were no polices in place regarding tree setback distances from roadsides.

He said that he would be happy to engage with Coillte regarding the recovery of costs and the issue of a buffer zone, “which if it was applied would prevent, or even if trees did fall wouldn’t be impacted on the road network.” 

“There is a buffer zone there at the moment,” said cllr Brennan,” and in that zone they plant hardwood, because it takes them four or five time longer for those trees to grow. There is a buffer zone for the first 60 feet, seemingly.

“But it’s the older forestry that are the problems. I was told by an employee of Coillte that they would not cut along the side of the roads unless the council contacts them.” 

Mr Walton said that if cllr Brennan provides him with the locations that he needs trees cut that he would in turn contact Coillte.