Storm support groups in Leitrim deserve full reimbursement, says councillor

Around 30 community support hubs were established following the aftermath of Storm Éowyn to provide essential services to those most affected by power and water outages.

These emergency support hubs operated across the county, on both weekdays and weekends, morning and evening, with Cllr Róisín Kenny stating, “people would’ve been lost without them.”

These centres offered vital supports, including phone charging, hot drinks, shower facilities, washing machines, and access to kitchen appliances.

Their efforts provided much-needed relief to those struggling without power and highlighted the goodwill of Leitrim people during difficult times.

The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme helped cover operational costs, but Cllr Kenny insists these hubs must be fully reimbursed for expenses incurred after the storm.

Calls for direct ESB contact in Leitrim after Storm Éowyn outages

Cllr Enda McGloin called for a direct local contact from the ESB to provide clarity on restore times to Leitrim people in the event of another major power outage.

At a meeting of Ballinamore Municipal District, she urged Leitrim County Council to call on the Government to ensure community and voluntary groups receive full compensation for all costs involved in running the groups.

“Our communities would have been lost without the trojan work done by these groups and they should not be left with the burden of the cost of extra electricity, heating oil, and food supplies,” Cllr Kenny said.

She stressed the need for a full reimbursement, and suggested the Government provide a €500 bonus to these groups in recognition of their efforts.

All members of Ballinamore Municipal District supported Cllr Kenny’s motion, acknowledging the vital role these community groups played.

READ MORE: Potato Day returns to Leitrim's Organic Centre