This article is from page 18 of the 2013-10-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
THERE have been calls for more to be done to improve public lighting in estates around Clare amid growing concerns over an increase in burglaries.
Members of Clare County Council yesterday urged the local authority to intervene to repair lights in estates that have yet to be taken in charge.
It followed a motion tabled by Fine Gael councillor Joe Cooney. Cllr Cooney called on the council to “repair public lights in estates where the developer no longer exists and where the council have not taken in charge those estates throughout the county in the interests of safety and given increase in burglaries”.
Cllr Cooney told the meeting inadequate public lighting is a major worry for residents.
“There is concern out there. We are aware that anti-social behaviour is going on in some of these estates,” he said.
Supporting the motion, Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald (Lab) said the problem of bad lighting had existed for many years in Clare. He said many homeowners paid the household charge but had been left with inadequate services.
Cllr Michael Kelly (FF) said problems in estates were not the fault of residents.
“We have to provide lighting to those people in those areas,” the councillor said.
Cllr John Crowe (FG) said many of the lights could be repaired for as little as € 80. He said many people are “living in fear” because of the rise in burglaries in rural areas. “It’s an absolute scandal that we can’t afford to pay for these lights,” he added.
Cllr Tom McNamara (FF) told the meeting that residents of older estates also deserved to have adequate public lighting in their areas.
“We have estates in this town [Ennis] where the electricity was never connected to the lights and they are not on. They are also entitled to proper public lighting,” he said.
Director of Service Gerard Dollard said the council hopes to take 13 estates in charge this year.
He told the meeting that money to repair roads and lights in estates comes out of the council’s roadwork’s budget.
He said the council made a detailed submission on the taking in charge of estates to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government but had not yet received a response.