West Mayo councillor wants emergency fund for critical works
Louisburgh councillor Chris Maxwell said cost to repair Lecanvey pier would be less had work been carried out when damage was first highlighted
A WEST Mayo councillor has called for a situation where the public procurement process can be by-passed in emergency situations to ensure critical works are carried out quickly.
Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell made the suggestion at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council after pointing out that damage to Lecanvey Pier has got worse since it was highlighted to the council over a year ago.
The west Mayo pier was damaged again by Storm Boebo in October and Cllr Maxwell said he feared that the cost of repairing Lecanvey pier could be in the millions if more winter storms 'strip away the rock armour' which is currently exposed.
While acknowledging that the council will start work on the pier early in 2027, the Louisburgh-based councillor said that what happened at Lecanvey piet should be avoided. He said that it takes too long to start jobs due to the procurement process involved and called for this to be scrapped in emergency situations.
“I want to make suggestions that will avoid these situations happening again,” the Louisburgh-based councillor told the meeting.
“In a possible emergency situation the procurement process could be overrode and get contractors in immediately to start the work. It would have saved the situation we are in at the minute. Another possible suggestion is an emergency fund and I suggest a fund of €5 million to be at the CEO's discretion and the local councillors where the emergency exists. That fund is there and work can start immediately and override the procurement process. They are two suggestions that should be looked at into the future.”
Cllr Maxwell also called on Kevin Kelly, the CEO of Mayo County Council to follow the example of his counterpart in Galway and meet with the Taoiseach to ask for more funding for the local authority.
“Right across this county all we are hearing is there is no money to do this or that project. I know you are doing your best and it is a funding problem but I think you should do what Galway did and talk to the Taoiseach and see if money can be found for this county.”
His suggestion was supported by Westport councillor Brendan Mulroy in calling for the council officials to meet the Taoiseach to seek more money for works.
In response, Kevin Kelly told the meeting that a lot of work needs to be done to piers and harbours around the county but they are each subject to a funding application to the department and there is a process they have to go through.