Every since the freezing conditions have given way to the post Christmas thaw the issue of potholes in the road have become a major concern in the Ballina area. At the bi monthly meeting of the Ballina electoral area committee, each of the members listed out roads around the area that have been affected by the issue.
Therese Durcan, engineer for Mayo County Council, told the members there are currently two crews working on the issue in the area full time. A number of councillors asked why the potholes which had been filled were within a matter of days needing to be filled once again. Cllr Gerry Ginty asked if it was anything to do with the quality of the materials that were being used by the council. Ms Durcan told Cllr Ginty the material was all of the highest quality, but the weather was the reason for the fill not sticking in the potholes. She told the meeting that while the air temperatures had picked up the ground temperatures were still very cold, and when they dropped down the ground would freeze and contract, and when they picked up it would thaw and expand and lead to the potholes that had been filled cracking and breaking up. She said that until the temperatures picked up around March time, this would continue to be a problem and there was not much that could be done about it.
Cllr Jarlath Munnelly had a notice of motion down for the meeting calling for the council to put every member of the outdoor staff working on the potholes, the motion was supported by other councillors. However Ms Durcan told Cllr Munnelly that this was not possible as the council only had a a very small crew working in the area, due to retirements, sick leave, and the recruitment ban. She also told him that some of the outdoor crew were also deployed in the sanitary services section and they could not dedicate themselves wholetime to one issue. Cllr Gerry Ginty called on the Government and any incoming Government to lift the recruitment ban even on a temporary basis. “I’ve been told that the outdoor staff in this area is only around 10 or 1 people now,” he said. “There must be 300 to 500 miles of road in the area, even if there was money to get round to do every road in the area they wouldn’t be able to do that and do the rest of their work. It’s time this Government or the next one gave a commitment to lift the ban in cases like this where there is huge need.”
