Sinn Féin TD for Limerick, Maurice Quinlivan, has raised the issue of street maintenance and the growth of weeds and grass across city footpaths with the local authority.
“Weeds are nothing new but this year seems particularly bad. It is very noticeable in many areas across the city with weeds and grass all over footpaths,” Deputy Quinlivan told the Limerick Post.
“I have been contacted by residents across the city about the huge increase in weeds especially on footpaths. One woman in my local area said she was very annoyed after contacting the council on numerous occasions that no action has been taken.”
According to the Limerick politician, a number of residents have raised the particular issue regarding Ivan’s cross and the link road to Thomond Park.
“Clearly it is an issue across the entire city. What’s particularly concerning is that a number of council officials have told me that that there was a shortfall in weed killer so the spraying wasn’t done this year on the scale that would have happened in the past. I have also been advised by council officials that the failure to properly spray roads and footpaths is due to funding not been allocated in the council budget and also ongoing cuts,” he claimed.
Deputy Quinlivan is now calling on the council to address this issue as a matter of urgency.
“This is peak tourist season period. It’s not good enough to have our roads and footpaths overgrown with weeds. People travelling into the city from Shannon Airport or travelling to Thomond Park should see our city at its best. We have council staff who rank amongst the best anywhere in the country, but they need the tools and the resources to do the job. It’s time that council management got their act together and tackled this problem before it gets any worse.”
In response, a spokesman for the local authority explained: “Limerick City and County Council has a weed spraying programme in place across the city and county, with funding provided for this in the 2016 budget. The combination of wet and warm conditions this year has given rise to prolific growth of weeds.
“We are continuing to deal with it as well as spraying allows and encourage any members of the public to report any problem areas to our Customer Services Department and these will be dealt with as quickly as possible.”
The bane of every green-fingered horticulturist, these unattractive plants bring images of neglect, hardship and decay to mind and are not something that promotes a positive image for any city.
During a walk around the city centre this week the Limerick Post spotted weeds and grass growing up out of the pavement near City Hall on Merchant’s Quay. Weeds were also taking root and making their presence felt along Nicholas Street, the main thoroughfare to King John’s Castle, and neighbouring streets such as St Francis Place, Convent Street and Mary Street.
Ironically, one of the worst hit areas we noted for weeds in the city was on the corner of Limerick City and County Council’s new offices on Patrick Street and Ellen Street.
