Change needed to protect power lines in Leitrim following major outages

Many parts of Leitrim faced days without water or electricity during Storm Darragh, causing widespread frustration and growing demands for change. Forestry has been identified as a key issue, with trees impacting power lines and insufficient access for ESB crews to carry out repairs efficiently. 

At January’s Leitrim County Council meeting, the situation was a central focus, with four similar motions proposed, all calling for action to prevent a similar recurrence.

Cllr Róisín Kenny asked that the Council call on the Government to take whatever action is necessary, to ensure that power lines along roads and particularly going through forestry are protected from trees falling due to storms.

Cllr Kenny told members that the week of Storm Darragh was the busiest week she had since been elected due to the large number of people without water and power.

“I hope that changes would be made on a national level when these forests are being planted, that there wouldn’t be any opportunity that they will affect power lines.

“Hopefully we could come up with something that would make a real change to the situation because it’s going to continue if action isn’t taken,” Cllr Kenny said.

Cllr Prior proposed that representatives from Uisce Éireann and the ESB attend the next Council meeting to address concerns.

One of the concerns is emergency preparedness. Cllr Prior emphasised the need for a 40 metre corridor around forests - 20 metres on each side - and highlighted the importance of identifying forest ownership.

Another issue he highlighted was the use of generators, noting that they remained inactive while people were without water.

“It’s not all down to generators,” Cllr Prior said. “We obviously don’t have the capacity here in Carrick-on-Shannon to fill our reservoirs down into Ballinamore and Aughavas. If a problem arises on the line it filters the whole way down,” he added. 

Cllr Prior also noted that a public meeting will be held on Thursday, January 23 in The Den in Ballinamore in conjunction with Leitrim PPN regarding power and water outages.

Leitrim power outages spark calls for forestry action after recent storm

At a meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon MD, Cllr McGowan urged the need for a corridor of 50 metres to be established, enabling ESB crews to access power lines within forested areas.

Vincent Dwyer, Director of Services Water, Environment, Climate Action and Emergency Services noted that the issue isn’t so much with generators, but the capacity of the Carrick-on-Shannon water plant.

“The water plant is at capacity 24 hours a day. If that goes down for five or six hours you’re in the potential of outages along the line at some point even with a full reservoir. The generators wouldn’t be needed if there was sufficient capacity,” Mr Dwyer said.

“That plant needs to be extended on a significant basis to facilitate the south of the county for the next 10 to 15 years.”

Cllr Mary Bohan proposed that the Council call on the Minister for Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture to compel Coillte and private forestry owners to clear trees that pose a threat to powerlines.

Cllr Bohan told members she heard an interview of a Coillte representative during Storm Darragh explaining that fallen trees are a matter of the ESB.

“If a tree falls down on a farmer’s ditch, car or animal it’s the farmer's responsibility. Why would it not be Coillte and private forestry's responsibility if trees fall and cause damage. They need to be proactive,” Cllr Bohan said.

“Unless they’re compelled to do it, I don’t think they will.” 

Cllr Maeve Reynolds noted that this issue impacts Leitrim far more significantly than other parts of the country. “I know any of the ESB crews that came from other parts of the country couldn’t get over the conditions,” she added.

Finally, Cllr Paddy O’Rourke proposed the Council contact all forestry owners regarding their obligations to maintain their forestry in compliance with the regulations laid down by the ESB and telecommunications providers in order to prevent a reoccurrence of what occurred in December. 

After discussion, it was unanimously decided that the Council would write to the incoming Minister for Agriculture and seek a meeting with a delegation of members.

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