Cork councillor calls for action as 160 public lights in city ‘out of order’

As many as 160 public lights in Cork city are out of order and unable to be fixed by the council without input from the ESB, according to Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan.

He said there is now a “huge backlog” and called for the council to officially complain to the electricity provider.

He added that estates in his ward, Cork City South Central, has public lighting which is “out, and has been out for a few months”.

He told The Echo: “I contacted council executives about it. They were very helpful and did what they could, but when I asked why the lighting wasn’t back up, I was told the ESB is the issue.

“My understanding is that approximately 160 public lights are out at the moment and waiting on ESB to fix them, and the rate they are going at the moment is they’re addressing four or five a month.”

Mr O’Callaghan explained that he will be putting a motion to the council asking them to make a formal complaint to the ESB, and will also put a question to the council to find out how many areas of the city are without lighting.

A Cork City Council spokesperson told The Echo that their public lighting contractor is “working closely with ESB Networks, and are liaising with them in regards to the quantity of faulty public lighting lanterns that require ESB network technicians’ assistance on site to rectify faulty lanterns mounted on ESB network poles”.

They explained: “Due to ESB regulations, certain works can only be carried out by ESB personnel. However, reducing the backlog of faulty lanterns is bound by the operational resources available from the ESB Networks to Cork City Council.”

An ESB spokesperson told The Echo: “Some public lighting faults in Cork city may require the attendance of ESB Networks crews to resolve. However, the broader maintenance and repair of public lighting remains the responsibility of the local authority and appointed contractors.

“It is important to note ESB Networks does not have visibility of the number or location of public lighting faults.”