Solar panels on Mayo homes remain unconnected for six years

Solar panels on a number of Mayo County Council homes have been left disconnected for more than six years.

Independent councillor John O’Malley told last week's meeting of the council that a number of homes in his municipal district of Westport-Belmullet had solar panels fitted but they were never connected by the council. He claimed the panels were fitted more than six years ago but remain unconnected. 

“They are now six years sitting on the roof and doing nothing,” he remarked.

Cllr O'Malley said Mayo County Council preaches about sustainability and the environment but yet this situation was allowed to occur.

Fine Gael Cllr Ger Deere said a housing estate in Castlebar fitted with solar panels also remains unconnected.

The council's Director of Services Tom Gilligan said he was unaware of the issue but would examine it.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael Cllr Michael Burke warned the local authority that another housing headache is looming. He said a large number of Ukrainian families will soon have to leave their current accommodation and face the prospect of having nowhere to go.

Cllr Burke said that a “crisis” is on the horizon unless the council gets ahead of the issue.