City Council chief executive Leonard Cleary, has tasked senior operational development staff to come up with a solution to what he described as a “very sensitive issue because of health and welfare issues”.
Asked when this issue - which has generated innumerable complaints from local politicians, business groups and private citizens – will be sorted, Cleary, who celebrated one year in the job this week, replied: “It should have been 11 months ago”.
Porridge oats have been dispersed almost daily for at least eight years from near Munster Avenue in the west end, throughout Galway city centre, and up around Bohermore, Prospect Hill and College Road. Pedestrian areas in Mainguard Street, Whitehall, Druid Lane and Kirwan’s Lane are stained white from a mixture of oats and pigeon droppings. Rain congeals the oats which attract birds and vermin.
Senior local authority staff met with HSE officials and local Gardaí two weeks ago to decide on a strategy to deal with the issue, which is raised by city councillors in plenary meetings almost every month. It is understood one community Garda was making headway with the issue some years ago, but this member is no-longer on duty in the city centre.
The latest meetings stem from a motion introduced by Councillor Níall McNelis (Lab ), seconded by Councillor Frank Fahy (FG ), last September, urging the local authority’s executive to “urgently tackle” porridge in the city as a slip hazard for people, and a threat to wildlife.
“No one person is above this city” thundered Councillor Donal Lyons (Ind ), a sentiment echoed by Fahy, who told a council meeting last week that he has received verbal abuse and emails demanding action on porridge oats littering the city. “One person cannot hold this city to ransom,” he said.
“People are demanding to know what the Council is doing about this,” said Councillor Terry O’Flaherty (Ind ), who revealed she has received numerous constituent representations on the issue. Councillor Clodagh Higgins (FG ) blasted the council for "turning a blind eye" to this example of alleged littering.
Environmental sources said the Local Authority may prosecute individuals under littering byelaws, or under the 1878 Public Health Act (Ireland ), which has specific provision for individuals who create a nuisance which threatens public health.
In a printed version of this article, a comment was misattributed. This version has been edited to correct the record.
