Mayo councillors told hedgecutting budget spent for 2025

A senior official with Mayo County Council has confirmed that no more hedgecutting will take place in the west of the county this year as the budget for 2025 is spent.

Seamus Ó Mongáin, Head of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District told the monthly meeting of the municipal district that the budget for hedgecutting in 2025 is spent after calls were made for more hedges to be cut.

Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell and Achill-based councillor Paul McNamara but asked questions at the meeting asking if more hedges will be cut before the end of the year.

Louisburgh-based Cllr Maxwell said that there were a number of roads in his area which needed to be addressed.

“A good job has been done with the hedgecutting but there is a lot more to do. If we get another three or four days extension it will solve a lot more problems back our way and leave roads safe,” he said.

Cllr McNamara questioned why the hedgecutter has not been seen in Achill in a number of weeks despite asking for a hedge along a local road to be cut for the last number of years.

READ: Mayo Minister welcomes publication of Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme Amendment Bill

“I have had a road in Crumpaun which I have been trying to get done for two years where the school bus runs and it [hedgecutter] is way too late coming in. The hedgecutter should be deployed straight away but we seem to be the last in Achill to get the hedgecutter. I know we don't have a lot of trees but we have some and to get them cut back would be great,” he said.

Mr Ó Mongáin replied that there would be no more hedges cut in 2025 because the budget has been spent but was hopeful that funding will be available in the 2026 budget. He said if there is, 'we will be straight out to deal with areas requested' and look to address them early in the new year before hedgecutting season comes to an end at the end of February.

Cllr McNamara criticised the number of times the hedgecutter has come into Achill and the failure to cut along the Crumpaun road despite it being flagged by him a number of times.