Minister Healy-Rae commits to visiting Leitrim ‘in the near future’
Minister Healy-Rae agreed with a delegation of Leitrim councillors to visit the county to see the storm damage first hand, though he did not commit to a specific date.
Michael Healy-Rae, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has confirmed to Leitrim councillors that he will visit the county to assess the storm damage caused by Storm Éowyn.
The storm left Leitrim devastated on the night of January 24 with its effects lingering for weeks and still visible 10 weeks later.
A delegation of councillors met with Minister Healy-Rae on March 25 to discuss forestry issues in the county.
The delegation included Cathaoirleach Paddy O’Rourke, Cllr Gary Prior, Cllr Maeve Reynolds, Cllr Brendan Barry and Cllr Eddie Mitchell.
Minister Healy-Rae agreed to visit Leitrim to see the damage first hand, though he did not commit to a specific date, stating he would come when his schedule allows.
Cllr Prior had initially called on the Minister to visit in the immediate aftermath of Storm Éowyn. The Minister, however, expressed frustration over criticism directed at him for not coming sooner.
Cllr Prior described the meeting as “constructive,” but noted that there was no firm assurance that forestry issues in the county would be fully addressed.
“There were many public meetings after the storm and we brought those concerns from the members of the public to the table of the Minister,” Cllr Prior said.
“It was constructive but there was no right commitment that it was going to be sorted once and for all.”
He also emphasised the need for the creation of corridors throughout the forests, stating that this point was made “quite clear” during the discussion.
“We’ll keep the pressure on him that he comes and sees first hand the damage that’s done,” Cllr Prior said.