Utility providers urged to do more to minimise outages
The need for ESB Networks and other telecommunication providers to carry out a risk assessment of their networks to reduce the number of power and communications disruptions going forward was the subject of a motion by Cllr Brian Fitzgerald at the March meeting of Meath County Council.
His motion calling for Meath County Council to write to ESB Networks and telecommunication network providers to do ask then to do "risk assessment of their network to minimise the more frequent occurrence of of overhead wires falling due to, falling trees and disturbing the transmission network for prolonged periods," was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Fitzgerald argued that with more and more storms on the way, something needs to be done in a coordinated fashion. "You see poles and you would think they were trees because they are thick with ivy. You are looking at cables lying along the road for months on end. It is not acceptable. What we are going to end up with is more and more storms. The more storms you have, the more weakened trees are becoming, it is the mercy of God that there weren’t more people killed and there have been a number. Unless there is something done in a coordinated fashion more accidents are going to take place. More ordinary households affected with no power, heat or lighting."
He said it is time that the stakeholders came together and and that the Energy Minister should coordinate and fund it.
A motion in similar vane by Cllr Francis Deane was also agreed, where he asked for Meath County Council to engage with local farming organisations to implement a scheme similar by other local authorities, "to address the concerns related to falling and diseased trees in proximity to overhead power lines.”
A response from the council pointed out that maintenance of trees is the landowners’ responsibility and outside its remit but if a centrally funded scheme was agreed with such organisations, the council would administer it.
Cllr Deane said he would be lobbying for government funding, and that it is an issue that needs to be addressed. It was highlighted at a meeting with the IFA president in Navan in January- and that was before the storm.
He said Ash dieback is a big issue. The farming bodies will be working closely with the local authorities and if possible, he would like to see something in place by the end of September.
Cllr Helen Meyer also had a motion calling on Meath County Council to engage with landowners, local groups and organisations on the planting and management of trees throughout the county and said she would like to see an arborist on the council staff to advise on the proper planting of trees. She pointed out at a lot of trees planted by the council also came down in the storm.
"We need do everything in our power to prevent the total damage was caused and the cost incurred by the council due to trees coming down on power lines," she said and her motion was agreed.
Meath County Council Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe pointed out that to take on responsibility for every tree would cost billions and was not going to happen unless it was centrally funded.
Also at the March meeting, Cllr Ronan Moore had a motion asking asked for an online consultation to be carried out so the council could get insight into people's experiences and could learn from them. He said it would be a low cost measure and they would not be bound by any recommendations but it could be helpful.
"I think a wide variety of people who had very different experiences during the storm, many of whom would welcome voicing their views and observations, i think it would be helpful to and help us better prepared for future storms that are sadly inevitable."