€100k bill for stolen manhole covers

The National Roads Authority (NRA) has confirmed that 126 manhole covers have been replaced on the M18 since last summer at a cost of €100,000.

It’s believed that the wrought iron covers were removed from drainage shores by thieves who sell them on to scrap metal dealers.

The NRA has also said while the problem appears to be confined to a section of the M18 that links counties Clare and Galway, they are checking the entire motorway network for missing covers.

The authority has confirmed that the problem has existed for some time but the scale of it was only realised after the NRA assumed responsibility for the motorway network and established a maintenance depot in Ennis adjacent to the route last September.

The authority has now confirmed that since last summer the cost of the thefts and damage caused during the removal of the wrought iron covers has been estimated at around €100,000.

NRA spokesman Sean O’Neill said: “This is something we have been monitoring since a previous incident and we wanted to see if that was a one-off. Since we took over the network and established a motorway maintenance base in Ennis, routine patrols and inspections by crews uncovered the extent of the problem.”

The problem appeared to be confined to a specific section of the M18, “but we are undertaking a survey of the entire network” he said.

The NRA has confirmed the survey has established that cover thefts have occurred in other areas but not on any significant scale.

“This activity poses a significant public danger and hazard and is now being investigated by the gardaí.

“We are installing additional speciality monitoring equipment in unique locations to monitor both the removal of manhole covers and illegal rubbish dumping. We are processing evidence and working with local authorities in this regard,” Mr O’Neill added.

“We would remind the public that official motorway maintenance vehicles will always have official signs and logos as well as traffic management measures in place if they are undertaking work. Any other activity on the motorway should be reported to gardaí as suspicious,” the NRA said.

Clare councillor Johnny Flynn, an engineer and former chief fire officer for Co Limerick, said: “This is really serious and the consequences of a vehicle driving into an uncovered shore at motorway speeds could be catastrophic.”

“This is not just anti-social behaviour but it’s also criminally neglectful, and I would remind any scrap metal dealers that the onus is on them to verify the ownership of any covers offered to them,” Mr Flynn added.