Carlow Council to set up support centres for aftermath of storms

CARLOW Co Council is setting up nine designated community support centres across the county, where people affected by severe weather events can access food and other basic welfare needs.

This comes as clean-up continues in the aftermath of Storm Chandra, where parts of the county suffered significant flooding as a result of heavy rainfall.

Councillors at the recent Muinebheag Municipal District meeting heard from senior executive officer Barry Knowles about progress on the centres. “Following on from Storm Éowyn and the recent severe weather, there was a need to identify locations within the county where people who are affected by severe weather can get access to basic welfare needs, food, hygiene facilities, wi-fi connection and so on,” said Mr Knowles.

The nine designated centres are split evenly between the three municipal districts and will be activated rapidly to support people in times of need.

“Of the three centres in Muinebheag, one will be here in McGrath Hall, Bagenalstown, one in Ballymurphy and one in Old Leighlin,” he told members.

Currently, electrical work is being carried out in the designated centres around a switch-over switch being installed so that the centres can run off a generator if the power at the mains goes off.

Mr Knowles said that so far work at five of the centres, including McGrath Hall, had been completed and they are ready to go if needs be.

Cllr Willie Quinn questioned the spread of the locations and said it would be impossible for people in some parts of the municipal district to get to the centres in Ballymurphy and Old Leighlin.

“From personal experience, if you get severe snowfall like we did in 1982 and you are in Rathanna and need to get to Ballymurphy, there is not a hope in hell you will be able to cross any road. In rain, there will be no problem – you can get from A to B – but in snow it is a different story,” said cllr Quinn.

Cllr Daniel Pender said the centres were a “welcome step,” but agreed with cllr Quinn’s point that it might be difficult for people in some locations to get to the centres.

“I know that where I am in Bilboa as soon as there is snowfall, we’re locked in for the guts of a week sometimes. If you’re coming from Bilboa to Old Leighlin, it’s a bit of a trek, so it is a welcome step, but it just comes down to trying to make sure we keep the roads open so people can get to these centres,” said cllr Pender.