‘Sick waiting’ for ESB to energise in Laois

Public representatives in Laois are furious over the service delivered Ireland’s State-owned electricity company when it comes to street lighting in the county.

Frustration with the ESB was exercised at a meeting in County Hall, Portlaoise when Cllr Aisling Moran, Independent, asked Laois County Council to ensure that the new lights in Killeen are switched on as soon as possible.

Public representatives were frustrated and annoyed that the electricity company was delaying connecting lights to power despite having been paid in advance by the council.

Cllr Moran said speed tables have to be installed on the Killeen road but the safety work can’t be completed until the light is energised. Saying that the connection request had been made a year ago.

“We need to be putting pressure on them. They have been paid - they shouldn’t be paid. There has to be a timeline,” she said.
Cllr Moran said it is located near a community center that is used every day and night.

She called for a representative of the ESB to attend the next meeting of the Graiguecullen Portarlington Municipal District. Cllr Moran also asked for an audit to reveal how much money has been paid to the company for work not done as contracted.

Cllr Padraig Fleming, Fianna Fáil, said the ESB must be tied to timelines.

Cllr Aidan Mullins, Sinn Féin, demanded reasons be given for delays.

“We are never given reasons for inordinate delays,” she said.

He said six lights were out of order in Lansdowne estate Portarlington for months while public lights haven’t worked for a year on Ballymorris Road in the town.

He claimed they are paid in advance to do work that only gets completed ‘whenever they feel like it’.

He said it would be embarrassing for the company’s representatives to attend a meeting with councilors to explain delays.
Cllr PJ Kelly, Fine Gael, said the school and GAA grounds in Emo is left in the dark.

“Hundreds of children attend the school and hundreds of people attend the GAA grounds. The lights are installed and I know this job has been paid for…I hope it gets done,” he said.

Cllr Ben Brennan, Independent, said there were up to eight lights out of order in Newtown for three months. “The whole road is black,” he said.

He said he is waiting for lights to be lit for two years in another location and a year for school radar signs to be repaired.
“Why are we paying when we are getting nothing in return,” he said.

He told officials: “I know you are sick listening to this but we are sick waiting for. We need action”.

In reply to the motion on Killeen, James Dowling, Senior Executive Engineer said Laois County Council Road’s Department is awaiting the ESB to energise the connection.

Paul McLoughlin, Senior Engineer Roads, said the council works with the ESB but said that the council had a list of ‘outstanding connections”, for the ESB. He confirmed that the local authority must pay upfront for some work and added that the local authority has had to forego work agreed to get infrastructure connected. He added that the council’s street light section is ‘constantly’ in touch with the company.

He said he would request a meeting with ESB’s area manager but said the company is busy adding the council pushes its case as hard as possible.

The issue was raised at the recent Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District Meeting.