€4m to roll out LED lights

The financial ability of Sligo County Council to bring forward a new public lighting scheme in 2020 came into question at last week’s meeting of the council.

Director of Services Tom Kilfeather said that he had ‘serious concerns, financially’ at the prospect of a new scheme coming into place this year.

He was responding to discussion on a motion from Cllr Thomas Walsh seeking an update on the proposed Public Lighting Scheme for 2020.

Mr Kilfeather said that the council incurred a significant overspend in 2019, but added that new LED lights that are installed do bring about savings in energy efficiency.

He said when the national approach in regard to lighting is finalised, the local approach should then be considered in that context.

He told councillors guidance from them as to what is expected would be useful.

Cllr Walsh raised the issue of a lack of public lighting in areas of Ballygawley, Collooney and Mullaghmore.

He said that as far as he was aware, there was little investment in lighting in public areas for quite some time. He said there could not be discrimination against rural villages.

Cllr Dara Mulvey told the meeting that the addition of just one or two extra lights in some areas can make a big difference, particularly in areas that people use to walk or exercise.

He also said that it was difficult to explain to people in rural areas why there was such a lack of lighting there compared to urban centres.

The question of new technology was raised by Cllr Donal Gilroy, who queried whether lights with sensors could be introduced so they would not have to be on all of the time.

Acknowledging that all councillors were coming under pressure regarding public lighting, Chief Executive Ciaran Hayes said there would be considerable financial savings once new once the new LED lights were rolled out.

However, it will cost in the region of €4 million to extend this countywide, and any energy savings will go towards repaying the loan, which could take up to eight years.

He said that in terms of lighting the council certainly does not discriminate against any area, but they do have limitations in terms of resources.