OPW asked to liaise with councillors on works in Mayo

THE Office of Public Works (OPW) has been asked to liaise with councillors about their works programme in Mayo.

Councillor Damien Ryan has asked a representative to attend a Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting to give elected members an update.

They were somewhat removed as public representatives when it comes to the OPW's programme, and they need to have a go to person, he said.

There are matters they would like to feed into, like flooding and drainage, and as a public body, he said, councillors should have a direct line to communicate with them. Members noted how Irish Water have a help desk for local representatives and it should be the norm with the OPW too.

Councillor Michael Burke said the ESB have a public representatives number for TDs and senators, but it's councillors who get the call and they don't have access unless they know someone in the system.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme