Health and safety 'no' to Mayo council staff rebuilding wall

COUNCIL staff have been prevented from rebuilding a wall knocked during Storm Éowyn due to health and safety, a Mayo elected representative has claimed.

The job only requires around 200 blocks, said Councillor Ger Deere, who told a meeting of Mayo County Council he could build it himself.

The wall is at the rear of the council's offices in Castlebar, between the car park at Mayo University Hospital.

Councillor Deere said he was told by reliable sources that council staff were to do the repairs, with cement and blocks bought. But then health and safety said 'No', an outside contractor has to be got in to do it.

It is now nine months on and they have to get a contractor in to do the work. Meanwhile, he believed the cement has gone hard up in the yard.

Speaking at the monthly council meeting, this, he said, was an example of where they are wasting money.

The wall is currently fenced off, with railing around it.

“It's crazy stuff,” commented Councillor Deere.