TETRA system failed Roscommon during ‘worst storm in history’

By Rebekah O'Reilly

The TETRA system used by emergency services failed Roscommon during 'worst storm in history', council members have heard.

The issue was raised by Cllr Michéal Frain at a recent meeting of Roscommon County Council, as he highlighted the failings of services in Roscommon during Storm Éowyn.

"We talk about the ESB and Coillte, but not many people realise the communication system for the emergency services also went down, and my understanding is that not a lot has been done since to right that situation," said Cllr Frain.

"It hardly seems credible that a national agency charged with the responsibility to provide fire services and emergency communications via the TETRA system are reliant on third-party owned sites with no back-up power supply. Why is there no backup power supply to maintain the emergency services when there's power outages and failures? There's a statutory duty in Roscommon County Council to receive fire emergency calls to be responded to appropriately.

"The Director of Fire and Emergency are always telling us to charge our batteries, and to have our backup generators ready, yet they didn't have their own back-up system during Storm Éowyn, and again during Storm Amy? We as an authority are paying upwards of €300,000 per annum to run the system, and it's hard to believe there is no back-up system available when it goes down."

Cllr Frain received widespread support from members, with Cllr Leah Cull thanking him for raising the issue which needed attention.

Cllr Michael Holland and Cllr Larry Brennan said it was 'unacceptable' and 'unforgivable' that communications costing €300,000 per annum would not be working.

Cllr Holland added: "It's hard to believe the communications were dead for two storms."

Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice said Roscommon had it's "worst storm in history" during Storm Éowyn.

"We were supposed to learn lessons, but it doesn't appear that we have. There's been a lot of mistakes made."

Cllr Valerie Duffy asked whether an alternative system was available, noting the urgency of resolving the issue when conisdering the impact Storm Éowyn had on the county.

Shane Tiernan, CEO of Roscommon County Council, said TETRA has claimed that 91% of the services remained online during the storm.

"That's what Tetra said, although we might have our own views. This is on management's radar as well."