Storm Éowyn clean up cost council over €1 million

The devastation caused by Storm Éowyn in January cost the council more than €1million.

The storm saw trees flattened, property damaged, wind speeds of up to 160kph, and thousands without power in the county.

At this morning’s meeting of the Roscommon Municipal District to agree the MD’s budget for 2026, councillors were informed that the local authority had spent €1.2 million in the clean up operation in response to the storm.

“We are out €1.2 million and we still haven’t got it recouped from the department (of local government),” said Head of Finance Sean Mullarkey. He indicated that the local authority was impatient for this funding to be recouped.

“We are told it’s coming but we are being given no clarity on it yet. We are told it might be November, it might be December,” he said. “A €1.2 million hit, is a big hit to Roscommon.” He was responding to a question by Cllr Ruth Conboy on plans to deal with future storm damage.

MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice said he was disappointed to hear the money was outstanding, especially following a “clear commitment” given by the government.

“The taoiseach visited Roscommon and I met him. He gave me personal assurances that local authorities would recover the money they had spent on Storm Éowyn,” he said. He proposed that the MD write to the taoiseach’s office, alerting him that County Roscommon has not been reimbursed.

“It was our understanding that there was a commitment there to reimburse the local authorities, and I would ask the taoiseach to personally look into this,” Cllr Fitzmaurice said. “And ensure that the local authorities be reimbursed immediately.

“The local authority spent, in good faith, a considerable amount of money doing a massive clean up of the biggest storm in 50 years.” That proposal was seconded and agreed. Cllr Conboy proposed that a letter be also sent to the minister to examine how the clean up for future storms could be funded. This was also agreed.