Waiver call on issuing of Mayo felling licences following Storm Eowyn

The issuing of felling licences for trees already damaged by Storm Eowyn should be waived according to local councillors in order for Mayo landowners and farmers to clear their property.

There was anger and frustration among councillors in the Claremorris/Swinford Municipal District as many of their constituents remained without power two weeks after Storm Eowyn hit the county.

The east and the south of the county has been the worst affected by the power backouts with large swaths of forestry damaging power lines.

Access to these lines has been made increasingly difficult and dangerous for ESB networks crews by the fallen trees which has led to local councillors calling for a waiver on felling licences.

READ: Devastating Mayo story to feature on new RTÉ documentary about impact of Storm Éowyn

Ballyhaunis-based councillor Alma Gallagher told the meeting that the process of applying for felling licences can be a 'financial burden' to landowners who want to clear their property.

“It is time we waive the felling licence and enable people to go down and cut the trees. We have landowners and farmers that want to cut those trees and are prepared to do it and if they are we need to enable them to do it.

“We need to have underground cables but the reality is by the time the next storm comes around that will not have happened so we need urgency to cut down as many trees as possible. The next storm might have less velocity but I guarantee you it will cause more damage because whatever is dislodged will come down,” she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by her colleagues in the municipal district with Sinn Féin councillor Gerry Murray claiming that there was a 'gold rush' in forestry in recent years with pension funds and investment funds buying land and local people not knowing who was responsible for fallen trees.

“There is a gold rush at the moment in terms of forestry with some racket going on. I know one transaction in east Mayo where a deal was done last year for €7million.

“One woman whose road was entirely blocked contacted one of these companies and a man who was allegedly the chief executive said the best we can do with you was to send down a chainsaw. That is the type of arrogance,” he said.

Independent councillor Richard Finn expressed his frustration that you still need a felling licence to cut up a tree that is already knocked by nature.

“You should not need a felling licence to cut a tree that is already on the ground,” he said while fellow Independent Cllr Patsy O'Brien said it will be a long time before trees are cut if landowners are not given assistance.

Fine Gael councillor Neil Cruise also gave his backing to the cutting of trees and suggested that a scheme be put in place to help elderly people remove large trees which surround their homes.