Limerick road crews ‘driving by’ potholes as they are ‘not in their area’
HAVING two road crews working out of the same depot in Limerick is akin to a mother and a daughter-in-law living in the same house.
That’s the view of Cllr John Sheahan who put down a motion at a Newcastle West Municipal District meeting that a permanent crew of road workers would operate on a full-time basis out of the Kinard depot in Glin.
Cllr Sheahan said a road crew for the Adare-Rathkeale district currently works out of Kinard, which is located in the Newcastle West municipal area, as well as a local road crew.
“They (road crew for Adare-Rathkeale) are passing out potholes in our area. I said it to one of the lads if he could throw a shovel of tar into a pothole and he said he couldn’t as it belongs to Adare-Rathkeale.
“Having two road crews in the one place is like having a mother and a daughter-in-law living in the same house. It can cause trouble. If they have a shovel of tar they could give us a loan of it,” said Cllr Sheahan.
Cllr Liam Galvin seconded the motion, saying surely the road crew for Adare-Rathkeale can be in their area.
The council response to Cllr Sheahan’s motion reads: “At present, we have two senior supervisor / general services supervisor positions operating in the municipal district of Newcastle West. One is located in Top Yard, Newcastle West and one in Doonakenna. Both of these supervisors have crews operating out of these locations.
“Any addition to these bases would have staffing and financial implications that would need to be approved by both transportation management and human resources. Regardless of locations, we believe all areas in the municipal district are getting a balanced service.”
On a similar theme, Cllr Sheahan put down a motion that the roads section set aside a specific budget for the supply and service of two permanent tar patchers to cover the road network in the Newcastle West Municipal District all year round.
The meeting heard the area currently has two patching units but that one was broken down on the day of the meeting.
The council’s reply indicated it would not be deemed efficient to have patching units operating all year round due to precipitation and inclement weather.
“For six months of the year two patchers are going to be in operation throughout the district. From November to February they will be reduced to one patching unit in the district.
Cllr Sheahan asked if this meant that potholes would not be filled in November, December and January. He was told no, but that it is more efficient to do them between March and October.