Good Work by County Council Crews Clearing Drains in Carrigaline District

Writes Leo McMahon

There was praise for county council crews working in Carrigaline Municipal District to clear all roadside drains in streets and estates, from elected members of the MD at their recent meeting.

Cllr Patrick Donovan (FF) paid tribute tostaff for literally digging out plants, mud and other materials blocking drains in Main and other streets in Carrigaline as this would benefit the town in the winter months. He reported a hidden and totally blocked drain near a bollard by the path close to the catholic church at Church Road.

Mr O’Brien said drains in Carrigaline, Crosshaven, Passage West, Monkstown, Ringaskiddy, Ballinhassig, Waterfall and Ballygarvan would be cleared.

In answer to Cllr Audrey Buckley (FF) he said the work involved using a road sweeper and a truck with a water jet and the sweeper would subsequently be used on a regular basis to suck up leaves etc. In reply to Cllrs Eoghan Fahy (SF) and Una McCarthy (FG), he said it was intended to clear drains in housing estates as well and all crews were currently allocated to this.

County Council workers clearing a drain at Clevedon, Carrigaline (l-r) Michael Kavanagh, Gary Riordan, Ger Long, Shane Piper, supervisor and Tony Cronin

An Cathaoirleach Cllr Jack White (FG) paid tribute to Mr O’Brien, supervisor Shane Piper and the crews for taking a pro-active approach ahead of possible El Nino rains and storms. Cllr Ben Dalton-O’Sullivan (Ind) and the other councillors concurred.

The work is arduous and time consuming because the MD has the use of a suction lorry only two days per week.

Cllr Buckley circulated a photograph of a tractor style hedge and verge cutter for roadside and walkways which Cobh MD had purchased and suggested one for the staff of Carrigaline MD, if and when, funding became available.

Acting senior executive engineer Andy O’Brien reported that 2026 road restoration and maintenance, Low Cost Safety and Local Improvement schemes in the MD were fully completed. Footpath projects were 97% and road improvement and climate change schemes 90% done on the day of the meeting. He added that 82% of the roads budget, which also covered village and town enhancement works, was spent on the day of the meeting.

MD officer Denise Kidney reported that there were two additions to the MD’s Derelict Sites live register: one at Highbury Gardens, Waterpark and another at Strand Road, Carrigaline. There are nine other sites on the register.