'A storm will happen again so we have to be ready for the inevitable' - Cllr Reynolds- Flynn

Generators need to be provided at community hubs in order to have something in place for people when storms knock out power around Leitrim. 

That was the view of councillors at the latest Ballinamore meeting where Cllr Ita Reynolds Flynn asked if there was any plan to include the installation of generators in designated hubs for use in the event of storms occurring over the winter months.

Cllr Reynolds Flynn said: "It's going to happen again so we have to be ready for the inevitable. We really need to have a plan in place ourselves."

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Cllr Enda McGloin supported the motion and said that any plan needs to "involve the Department of Rural and Community Development; there needs to be designated emergency hubs in Leitrim and the department could then identify ways to support these hubs for example with a generator that can power showers and various other things. Once there is a designated hub in each parish, they are eligible for funding and can develop resources. When another storm hits and these centres are resourced, they can be a place where people can get something to eat and maybe shower and use the phone; that's the plan that should be followed by the government and local authorities including our own and the PPNs as well."

The official response said that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are currently working on a guidance document for early recommendations from the Humanitarian Subgroup of the Storm Éowyn Review Steering Group and the council will follow their guidance in relation to designated emergency hubs. 

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He said: "Realistically we're not going to get generators into every community centre; We don't want to hear about working groups, we need confirmation at this point. Myself and Cllr Paddy O'Rourke with Minister Dara Calleary in Carrigallen recently and raised this issue with him."

He added: "It will take a bit of time for community centres to get these generators; I know a local group was speaking with the department only last week and were told that more funding will be announced for community centres and the group said they hoped that a generator would be offered. I would call on the government to make that announcement as soon as possible."

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke also supported the motion and said that storm season was not far away adding, "we have the volunteers thankfully, we have the buildings so all we need is a strategic number of generators that offer good capacity in an area to a large building."

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He said generators went from "€600 to  €1,800 overnight after Storm Éowyn and are only on the rise."

Cllr Brendan Barry agreed saying, "now is the time to be preparing and have things in place. I spoke to a retailer who ordered generators at the time of the storm and they only received them a month ago. A generator for a community centre isn't going to be something sitting on a shelf and that's why it needs to be done as soon as possible."

It was confirmed that the municipal district would contact the department to seek an update.