Councillors in Tipperary voice concerns about contactor rule that 'defies logic'

Councillors in Tipperary have called the fact that two contractors cannot work repairing electricity at the same time in their district as 'dysfunctional'. 

Fine Gael councillor Declan Burgess began the discussion during the November monthly meeting of the Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District.

"If the ESB are operating in a municipal district and working on a line, our contractors cannot come into Cashel or Cahir, if there’s other work going on in other parts of the district," he began.

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“I understand they can’t go onto a live system that’s disabled for works on a street in Tipperary Town and then go on to Rosanna road and start work, that’s not practical. However, there's a difference between Tipperary Town, Cashel and Cahir,  and it shouldn’t stop other contractors coming in to complete works. As a local authority we need to address that fast because there’s huge inefficiencies there.”

Independent councillor Máirín McGrath said she agreed with Cllr Burgess about the issue.

“I want to back up what Cllr Burgess said. I too have received ridiculous delays. When we switched providers we thought we’d get a better service but it’s gone backwards to be honest. What’s happening now, that the contractors can’t work together in three large towns in the district, is totally dysfunctional.

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"That you can’t work on public lights at the same time as others are upgrading other public lights is beyond belief. The delays now are the worst I’ve ever seen in my six years in the council. We need to look at whether the contractors are fulfilling their contractual obligations," she explained. 

Fine Gael councillor Marie Murphy told the meeting that the situation defied logic.

“It’s a crazy situation when someone can’t come in to repair a light in Ballyporeen because another person is repairing a light in Tipperary Town. It defies logic.”

The District Engineer for the council, James Murray, said that the council will query this with contractors and the ESB.