“Scarcity of funding” for public lighting has been put into focus with residents on the outskirts of Ennis Town raising their concerns.

Installation of public lighting on the Golf Links Rd in Ennis was sought by Cllr Mark Nestor (FF) at the February sitting of the Ennis Municipal District.

Planning conditions for developments at Ballymacaulla and Beechpark for a special contribution to cover the cost of the provision of public lighting on Circular Road from Golf Links Road to Drumbiggle Rd. Junction were recommended by the Ennis MD, senior engineer Eamon O’Dea advised.

O’Dea added, “The Woodhaven Development’s scheme is under construction and An Bord Pleanála approved the Abadair scheme in December 2020 and the Ennis MD Office will inquire from the Planning Section regarding the special contributions for the provision of public lighting on Circular Road”.

Several residents contacted Cllr Nestor to alert him that it is “a very dangerous road in the darkness”.

Complaints regarding public lighting are a common occurrence at MD meetings, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) acknowledged. “The whole issue of lighting raises its head from time to time, there seems to be a scarcity of funding for public lighting. It is something we need to address”.

“Lighting is hugely important in areas that people are walking along, I lived in Beech Park for my younger years and walked that road quite a lot, it is becoming a more built up area,” Cllr Ann Norton (IND).

An update from the planning section is due, O’Dea told the meeting. “We need the funds to be able to come in order to proceed,” he outlined in response to the councillors’ comments on lighting.