STREETLIGHTS across the Shannon Municipal District have been left unrepaired for up to 6 weeks, according to Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF).
At the most recent Shannon MD meeting, Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) raised concerns about the slow pace of repairs and put forward a motion that the management would update the local councillors on the status of the public lighting repairs maintenance and renewal schedules.
As Mulcahy was not present at the meeting the motion was put forward by Cllr John Crowe (FG) on the absent councillor’s behalf.
Suzie Clifford, senior executive officer of the Shannon MD responded by detailing the progress made under Electric Skyline, the maintenance contractor appointed in October 2024. She revealed that faulty lighting units had been reduced from 3.2% to 2.08% of the total, with 315 of 15,139 lights currently out of service. However, she explained that stringent ESBN Health and Safety regulations, which require a 3km exclusion zone between maintenance and retrofitting crews, have contributed to repair delays.
“Given this requirement, it is not possible to have our maintenance crews undertake works in the same locations as the retrofitting crews, and this leads to increased repair times in the Shannon MD,” Clifford explained.
Cllr O’Gorman voiced frustration over the ongoing delays, noting the widespread issues in Shannon, Shannonbanks, Westbury, Sixmilebridge, and Meelick. “We can get out a map and see every light that is out in our area, but it seems to be taking a long time before the red dots are turned back to the other colour again,” he said.
“It seems to be taking forever to get lights fixed. Is the contractor capable of handling the workload?”
In response, Alan Farrell, Director of Services for the Shannon MD, assured the members that the contractor had the necessary resources, though he acknowledged that the situation was challenging. “There is a very limited market for the expertise we need, and retaining skilled workers remains a difficulty,” Farrell stated. He also urged elected members to contact Pat Lynch from the machinery section for specific updates on ongoing issues.
While weather events and ESB-related delays have impacted repairs, Farrell emphasised the district’s commitment to improving communication with residents. “We are working closely with the contractor to ensure they are as efficient as possible, and I want to make sure you have the information to explain the delays to your constituents,” he said.
