Mayo apology about communication needed as power cuts continue

The ESB owes the people of Mayo an apology about communication as customers remain living in the dark with no power two weeks after Storm Éowyn.

Lack of communication was highlighted by councillors at a Claremorris-Swinford Muncipal District meeting yesterday, with the PowerCheck app branded an 'appalling service'.

Residents and businesses are frustrated and angry, with elected members inundated with representations from people in 'dire straits'.

Frontline staff in the council, ESB and other services were praised for their work, but lessons will have to be learned overall.

Standing orders were suspended for a lengthy discussion on the storm and it impacts, with cathaoirleach Councillor Damian Ryan warning the ESB not to come back with increased costs for customers. And he called for better communication from all service providers to the elected representatives, who need direct access to the people who know what is going on.

The ESB's pre-emptive maintenance has fallen down, said Councillor Michael Burke, who highlighted how a helicopter used to go out and check lines and trees.

One story related to him was about a notice issued seven years ago about a pole with a transformer that needed to be replaced. That didn't happen and it came down in the storm.

He was also listening about who is responsible for trees, saying government has to come in with an incentive to tackle trees, with some rotten inside from ash dieback.

On day 13 of the outages, Councillor Alma Gallagher said there has been a lack of localised information. On the ground the ESB staff were doing a fantastic job, she added.

We need to look after our most vulnerable, and people need to be registered as such, with them made the priority for the services.

On trees, she proposed the need for a felling licence be waived and also that planting within 25 metres of lines be removed. The next storm will cause even more damage, she warned.

Frustration at not being able to contact anyone in the ESB was voiced by Councillor Adrian Forkan, who highlighted areas in Killasser being days without of power over the last three storms, with other areas such as Meelick and Kiltimagh hugely impacted this time too.

The ESB app, PowerCheck, was as useful as an electric kettle with the electricity is off, he said. “It's an appalling service.”

“People are 13 days without power and it's no wonder they are angered.

"And we have no way to contact anyone in the ESB or eir. That needs to be sorted out,” said Councillor Forkan.

Councillor Patsy O'Brien was unhappy with communication from management in the council, saying they were left on their own, with no information.

There should be a team in place with regards emergencies and have a plan in place, he told management.

Councillor Richard Finn informed the meeting how the ESB had €800m profit in 2023 but were talking about putting up prices to pay for the storm impact. They expect the people to make up the difference so they can hold on to their profit, he commented.

He noted too how we got plenty warnings but were not prepared, whereas we should be prepared, on standby and ready to go.

Investment by the ESB was impacted after the market was deregulated, explained Councillor Gerry Murray, with rural areas missing out. We should go back to having a state-owned company.

Their money doesn't come from money generated by electricity but from the energy regulator and there wasn't enough to invest into infrastructure.

'Huge confusion' around the humanitarian assistance scheme was highlighted by Councillor Deirdre Lawless, who also commented on the lack of communication from the council.

The ESB, she added, owed the people of Mayo an apology about the lack of communication.

Councillor Neil Cruise agreed at national level, they had a serious case to answer.

The planning laws also needed a rethink, with passive houses totally reliant on electricity a 'nonsense'.