Councillors say Mayo's coastal infrastructure is being neglected
Cllr Chris Maxwell highlighted the recent damage to Lecanvey Pier in West Mayo.
Members of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District believe marine infrastructure around the coast of Mayo is being neglected.
Speaking at last week's meeting of the local authority, several councillors highlighted fractures and faults in piers and quay walls in their area, which takes in the bulk of Mayo's extensive coastline.
Raising the issue, Cllr Peter Flynn wondered who would be held liable if a member of the public suffered an injury at the boatyard at Westport Quay.
“There are boats there that are tonnes in weight being held up by 2x4s in a situation where you have footpaths running alongside towbars and wires sticking out. I have raised this before and want to know is it Mayo County Council that will be held responsible, and who is responsible for health and safety in public areas, because that boatyard presents a huge risk to the public at large.”
Cllr Flynn called for whoever is in charge to attend the next meeting of the forum to answer a range of questions, including how a commercial operator is allowed to run an entertainment business at the quay each summer, “with no public liability”.
Cllr Chris Maxwell highlighted serious remedial works needed at Lecanvey Pier that have not yet been carried out. He claimed these works should have cost €50,000 but may now rise to €500,000 due to ongoing erosion and pointed out that nothing has happened at other piers from Belmullet to Killary where the council had said works would be done.
Cllr Maxwell said there had been "a lack of accountability" ever since the council's Head of Marine moved from the position, saying: “Look at Roscahill, Murrisk, and see all the abandoned boats.”
He said management constantly referred to other people who could be called on to do the works, telling municipal district manager Seamus O’Mongáin: “I think we should break away and step up to it ourselves. We are well fit to do these jobs.”
Cllr Flynn agreed, saying the current situation was "not good enough”.
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
