‘Year after year’: Councillor demands answers to persistent power outages in Leitrim

Frustration over a continued lack of clarity from the Government and the ESB following frequent power outages in Leitrim has prompted a call for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to attend a meeting of Leitrim County Council.

At May’s Council meeting in Carrigallen, Cllr Maeve Reynolds proposed that the CRU be invited to address the ongoing power disruptions in the county, emphasising that this is not simply “a Storm Éowyn problem,” but a persistent issue affecting Leitrim year after year.

“Despite three delegations from the county meeting the Minister for Forestry, we still have no clear commitments to cut back forest vegetation near powerlines,” Cllr Reynolds said.

“Nor have we received any firm assurances from the ESB that action will be taken to prevent this from happening again,” she continued.

She stressed that the issue extends well beyond January’s storm. “Across Leitrim people are experiencing regular and sustained electricity outages year after year, storm or no storm. These are serious recurring failures that pose real risks to families, vulnerable individuals and businesses,” she said.

She told the meeting that some homes  and businesses have been without power for over a month in total over the last four years, when all the outages are added together, noting the impact and that the problem in Leitrim is more severe than in other parts of the country.

“It is imperative that the CRU attend a meeting of this Council,” she added.

ESB addresses pole maintenance and storm impact in Leitrim

ESB representatives attended March’s meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District to discuss pole maintenance in the area and provide information Storm Éowyn.

She also called for clear communication of available supports and compensation for customers affected by outages, particularly ahead of severe weather events.

She noted that some individuals who took part in the humanitarian assistance scheme still haven’t been paid, four months after Storm Éowyn.

Cllr Reynolds received broad support from members.

Cllr Gary Prior voiced disappointment that Minister Healy-Rae did not meet with local representatives during a recent visit.

“Minister Healy-Rae was in the vicinity a couple of weeks ago and couldn't see fit to make contact or let some local representatives meet him first hand on site,” he said.

Cllr Enda McGloin mentioned that the ESB is exploring potential legislation to strengthen its authority regarding tree setbacks and to regulate new forestry planning.

Kevin Staunton, ESB Area Manager, has previously told a meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District in March that the company is considering establishing a dedicated contact number for local representatives as communication during the storm was a significant issue.

Cllr Reynolds reiterated that this is not just a “Storm Éowyn issue,” but a long-standing and ongoing problem affecting many households.

“It’s not a new phenomenon, and I think that's where Leitrim is a special case and we need answers to this.”

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