Council to save money on LED public lighting

The changeover to energy-efficient public lighting is a win-win for the environment and for Mayo County Council's coffers, a meeting of the local authority has heard.

Providing an update on the ongoing changeover of public lighting throughout Mayo, Director of Services Tom Gilligan told members at the February meeting of the council that "all local authorities are looking towards energy-efficient LED lights". 

"Public lighting accounts for 40% of local authority energy use and making this transition to reach our climate targets is impactful.

“Mayo has 18,000 public lights and 13,617 have been fitted with LED so far with the full LED rollout expected by 2029. Once fully complete, projected annual energy savings on public lighting is €821,000 every year, which is significant and it is also helping to reach climate change targets.” 

While councillors welcomed the progress, some complained about how long it takes to get replacement lighting where bulbs have blown, with Cllr Gerry Murray saying: “The lights are out in in one housing estate in Charlestown since last October. Older people and residents are trying to make their way home in the dark and this is a health and safety issue. They have had no lights throughout the entire winter and it is not good enough.” 

Cllr Damien Ryan agreed, saying: “It is black in Cong where the retrofit was supposed to happen in 2024. The timeframe to get replacements is too long and when a company signs up to provide a public service contract, this work should be part of it.” 

Cllr Blackie Gavin also shared a case of an elderly lady in Castlebar who has been waiting since November for the light outside her house to be repaired, saying: “It's not good enough.” 

Belmullet councillor Gerry Coyle raised the point that the energy-efficiency aspect of the LED lights did not seem to apply to the windmills erected in North Mayo, saying: “I can see big red lights from them across from Bellacorick so I don’t see the dark skies being taken into consideration there.” 

Responding to the various issues, Mr Gilligan said Electric Skyline is contracted to look after the lights and “they have to deliver and respond within a certain timeframe". 

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.