No work for men at Mayo council machinery yard

UP to 18 men have found themselves with no work to do at a council yard in Castlebar, according to a local public representative.

The matter was highlighted by Councillor Harry Barrett who has asked council officials to 'help me understand' what is the situation with the machinery yard in the county town.

The councillor said he has been contacted by employees who told him that up to 18 men have had weeks without any meaningful work to do.

At the same time a perfectly functioning paving machine has been 'mothballed' for the last two years.

These people were looking for work, he told management at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council, adding that he had previously sought a report on the matter.

“If we have the men and machines, they should be flat out all the time when they are available,” Councillor Barrett commented.

He was told there is an ongoing full review of the yard and a report, which goes into a lot of detail, might be available in September.

The chief executive, Kevin Kelly, said he doesn't want a scenario of men not working and from his initial enquiries, he was told that is not the case.

There are issues around the paving machine, he added, including trained operators and the cost of completing jobs.

But the overall report will tease matters out and he was expecting strong recommendations on what they deliver with that operation into the future.