Forestry companies and forestry owners have been urged to “take responsibility” for recent power cuts following Storm Darragh if their trees took out power lines, according to Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on Agriculture, Rural and Community Development.
Sligo-Leitrim TD, Martin Kenny, said that the onus is on ESB, forestry companies and forestry owners to ensure that trees are properly maintained and assessed to ensure that they are not a risk to power supplies.
Deputy Kenny said: “The recent Storm Darragh caused devastation throughout the country with power outages and loss of water supply.
“I must commend the work of the local authorities ESB crews, Usice Eireann workers and volunteers on the trojan work they are doing to get power and water supplies back up and running.
“In most cases trees falling on lines is the reason for power outages. With more of these big storms and weather events power outages are becoming too common and we need to be doing more to prevent power outages”.
Power cuts
He said it is important that ESB, forest companies and forestry owners ensure that trees are therefore “cut back” so that they cannot fall on power lines.
“Our electricity network is a vital piece of infrastructure for the country, and it needs to be protected.
“It is my understanding that ESB is given wayleaves to cut trees that are a danger to power lines in all new forest plantations for the last 20 years or so. There may be older forest plantations that they don’t have wayleaves for.
“There needs to be investment in protecting the electricity network by the ESB and ensuring that all power lines are protected from falling trees,” Deputy Kenny added.
He has also recommended that in forests, where ESB does not have wayleaves, the forest companies or forest owners should be “forced to grant the way leaves” or else be responsible for cutting back trees from the power lines themselves.
“Vital infrastructure such as water and electricity networks need to be protected,” Deputy Kenny urged.
Coillte
Separately the issue of how forestry companies, such as the semi-state organisation, Coillte, assess trees as a potential risk to power lines was also raised in a meeting held by Cavan County Council.
Cllr. John Paul Feeley tabled a motion that highlighted that some of the power cuts which had impacted people living in Co. Cavan had been the result of falling trees and their proximity to power lines.
He accused forestry companies such as Coillte of having no regard for the people living in rural areas who were forced to endure lengthy power cuts.
Cllr. Feeley has requested that Cavan County Council write to both the minister for agriculture and Coillte to put in place a programme of maintenance to prevent future power cuts in the area.