Storm Éowyn may cost Leitrim ‘millions’: Councillor seeks Government aid

A fallen tree on Rinn Road in Mohill, an example of substantial damaged caused during Storm Éowyn.

placeholder image — A fallen tree on Rinn Road in Mohill, an example of substantial damaged caused during Storm Éowyn.

Cllr Maeve Reynolds proposed a motion seeking an emergency financial package from the Government to aid the Council’s recovery efforts following Storm Éowyn.

A motion requesting the central government to deliver an emergency financial package to Leitrim County Council in response to Storm Éowyn received full support at a meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon municipal district.

Cllr Maeve Reynolds proposed the motion, emphasising that the storm likely caused the Council millions in damages between cleanup operations and major repairs.

She stressed that this unprecedented event must not interfere with planned and budgeted projects.

“It’s been obvious from the last two weeks that the people of Leitrim didn’t receive adequate support from the central government and we must now ensure that we don’t suffer long term consequences because of that,” Cllr Reynolds said.

She called on all elected members to back her request for an emergency financial package from the Government to aid the Council’s recovery efforts following Storm Éowyn.

Cllr Reynolds also urged that James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage conduct a review of the humanitarian response to the storm.

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She highlighted the need to assess how the response was handled and to implement measures that would ensure better preparedness for any future large-scale humanitarian crisis, both at Council and central government levels.

“The effects of that storm will be visible on the landscape around here for decades to come. I feel the central Government hung us out to try, and the least they could do is provide Leitrim with the types of support that’s needed,” Cllr Cormac Flynn commented.

Cllr Des Guckian inquired whether Council officials had an estimate of storm related damages and support costs.

Mary Quinn, Director of Services for Housing, Corporate Services, Community and Cultural Services responded that the final cost had not yet been determined, as there were multiple factors involved, including immediate expenses for humanitarian response, cleanup effort and then also road repairs.

“There is a bit of work to be done to get the final costs,” she said.