Councillor hits out at lack of grass cutting in estates

Ballinasloe’s estates are being short-changed when it comes to getting the grass cut in their estates – unlike, according to one local councillor, their counterparts in Galway City.

But Cllr Dermot Connolly was told that the estates in the town were actually faring out much better on the mowing than those in Tuam and Loughrea given the over reduction in resources.

Cllr Connolly raised the issue at a meeting of Ballinasloe Municipal Council when he said that while there was an increase in Local Property Tax of 10%, there is a lack of grass cutting in estates.

The Sinn Fein councillor asked officials if there was a schedule of works when it came to grass cutting in estates in and around Ballinasloe. He said that he was aware of staff shortages last year but added that some works had already taken place this year.

Senior Executive engineer Adrian Headd responded by saying that the Council was tied to a budget and that parks and open spaces were subject to the availability of resources.

Mr Headd said that it was hoped that they would be able to keep on top of grass cutting but made members aware that they were doing so with a lack of finance and personnel.

“We cannot give any commitment going forward given the position in relation to resources,” Mr Headd added.

But Cllr Connolly said that there did not seem to be a problem with grass cutting in Galway city. He said that he took the train to a meeting in the city recently and saw at first hand the level of grass cutting that was going on.

“But yet we have to tolerate a situation in which we are getting an amount to cut our grass that is not acceptable and yet we have to pay 10% more in property taxes,” he said.

The councillor was assured by Mr Headd that the amount of grass cutting that is taking place Ballinasloe is at a much higher frequency than in the likes of Tuam or Loughrea.