‘Ordinary people are paying the price’
The response to Storm Éowyn, which hit Ireland on January 21, was again discussed at the monthly meeting of Cavan County Council.
It was Cllr Stiofán Conaty (SF) who brought up the issue, asking the council executive if funds could be allocated to community groups to purchase generators and to prepare community hubs for future weather events.
If no such funding is available, he asked if they could be sourced from "elsewhere".
He said such weather events will become "common" as we "start to feel the effects of over industrialisation".
"Ordinary people are paying the price for a shortsighted economic model that prioritises growth at all costs," he stated.
During Storm Éowyn, Cllr Conaty described community groups and hubs as a "saving grace" and the "backbone of our county", while he also praised Cavan County Council staff for their response to the storm.
However, the Ballyhaise man went on to state that such groups are "already working at full capacity" and asked if the council could look at funding options for them in order to be "prepared" for future weather events.
Cllr Damien Brady (SF) supported the motion wholeheartedly.
"If we can't provide the funding, certainly funds can be got somewhere," he remarked.
He referred to the plight of those in parts of west Cavan, where some were "left without" power and phone lines for "many many weeks after".
"They [workers] couldn't get access to the wires," he pointed out.
Cllr Brady pointed to the windfarm in the Bawnboy/Ballyconnell area, which provides funding to the community "every year", and suggested that they write to Coillte or private tree companies to "provide generators" as a "small token" in dealing with the fall out of storms.
"They could do something to that effect," he suggested.
Cllr Shane P. O'Reilly (II), while supportive, suggested the motion be referred to the relevant Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).
Fianna Fáil's John Paul Feeley acknowledged the work of community groups at the time of the storm, and also congratulated the Swanlinbar community who successfully applied for MD funding to put a generator facility in place.
Cllr Noel Connell (SF) said there was "great work" done by the community groups, and gave his support to the motion.
"A stitch in time saves nine," chimed Cllr Brendan Fay (Ind), who said that "going forward we need to have a strategy in place".
He proposed to ask the "big" utility companies into the council chamber to speak on the issue, however also pointed out that representatives from Coillte and ESB were "asked to come" to a community meeting in Corlough to discuss the issue, however "they didn't" attend.
Cllr Trevor Smith (FG) also praised the community efforts, and said the council "will be better prepared" in future, while Clifford Kelly (FF) said the council needs to "hit the ground running".
Support for the motion was also forthcoming from Cllr Niamh Brady (FG) and Patricia Walsh (FF) who praised the Corlough community for their efforts in preparing themselves for the next time such weather events takes place.
"That was a community getting together to put a plan in place," she praised.
Meanwhile Cllr Winston Bennett (FG) said that, if generators were provided to community groups, they would "have to be serviced every two to three months".
He suggested that it would be "better" if they were "eligible" to take a generator in the event of a storm.
The Cathaoirleach supported the motion, and Cllr Bennett's idea that there would be "facilities there to take a generator" if it is needed, adding that the "danger" occurs when generators are given out and then "don't work" when needed.
Responding, Director of Services, Brendan Jennings, said there are grants for such resources, and praised the "great work" carried out by council staff and communities during Storm Éowyn.
He agreed that "it is likely" that the county will experience such weather events in the future.