Concern expressed over public lights and repeated vandalism

CONCERN was expressed at last week’s meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council over issues with public lighting in the area near the Gaelscoil.

Cllr Jackser Owens raised the matter at the meeting and said people were waiting a long time for something to be done.

The Area Roads Engineer, Neil Dempsey, said there had been an issue getting a contractor down to address the matter and added: ‘ The costings that came back were frightening.’

Mr Dempsey also said that vandalism is a big issue and commented that in one case a light was fixed and vandalised again within two days.

Cllr Owens pointed out that the Gaelscoil will be opening up soon.

He also asked if there will be public lighting in place from there down to Castle-gardens and in response Mr Dempsey said an application for funding has been submitted.

‘ There is a small pot of money for new schemes,’ he said.

‘ That work will probably have to be phased,’ he added.

He went on to comment: ‘We are hoping to get lights out there as well.’

The members were told that around €8,000 is being invested into the lights and that prompted Cllr Aidan Browne to express concern at the cost and the fact it could be an ongoing problem. ‘€8,000 is a lot of money,’ he said. ‘Is there any other option because we could be spending that again in a few months time,’ he added.

While saying the overall options were minimal Mr Dempsey said there are options in relation to anti-vandalism heads.

‘We could try them,’ he said.