'Michael Healy Rae talking about planting Christmas trees underneath powerlines' - Leitrim councillor

The forestry minister, Michael Healy Rae came under fire recently at a meeting in Ballinamore where councillors were discussing issues around trees being planted too close to power lines.

Cllr Brendan Barry had asked that the council  seek an update from ESB networks, Government and the forest service on what has been done since storm Éowyn to protect ESB poles and wires in forests in Leitrim.

He said: "I see a lot of forestry machinery on the road and there is a huge amount of forestry being cleared which were causing the problems but sadly of those have been replanted this year in the same place. Corridors have changed and the government and ESB networks haven't done anything to change those so we have trees being planted within ten metres of high and medium voltage lines and only four metres away from low voltage lines. That will mean those trees will be causing the same issue again in twenty years. Something has to be done to widen those corridors and make the network more resilient."

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Cllr Gary Prior supported the motion noting that Minister for Forestry, Michael Healy Rae spoke this week about the planting of Christmas trees underneath powerlines. "It seems to be a way out for me. These Christmas trees can get very big in a short space of time."

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke commented: "That is absolute nonsense because advocated 25 years ago and it was estimated that we would need a population of 20 million to use these Christmas trees. With no market for them, they grew to maturity. That's a cop out; that's no reply at all. That's all about income for forestry."

Cllr Prior said that Deputy Healy Rae is holding "seminars to promote the planting on trees and this is adding fuel to the fire for the people of county Leitrim; no consideration for us on the ground. We're decimated as a county. Really concerning."

Streetlights in Fenagh Village now working 

Cllr Brendan Barry also called for the new streetlights that were installed in Fenagh Village on the Foxfield, Keshcarrigan road
early in 2024 be completed and turned on and was advised that these lights are now operational. 

Cllr Barry welcomed the response.