The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is investigating why reports of potholes to Roads Service in the Coonian area have “fallen off the system”.

The issue was discovered by Sinn Fein’s Councillor Seamus Greene, who personally reported the potholes on a number of occasions over the past few months, which were never repaired, and on enquiry, it emerged the reports had apparently vanished from the system.

Such is the frustration with gaping untreated potholes on roads in the area that Councillor Greene pointed to residents finding a novel way of using Christmas decorations to highlight them.

Referring to the situation as a “pothole-demic which has hit Fermanagh with a vengeance”, Councillor Greene said Roads Service have failed to put any tarmac in potholes reported eight months ago.

He claimed: “Roads Service seem to have washed their hands of any rural roads in Erne East, and aren’t repairing any potholes – including those repeatedly reported by myself and local residents.

“Potholes in the areas of Grogey Road and Coonian Roads, in particular, have been reported many times, but somehow Roads Service keep removing them [reports from the system].

“It appears they stay on the system for a few weeks, and are then deleted without anything being done.”

He continued: “I had a site meeting with the Western Divisional Manager, Daniel Healy, before Christmas and brought him to several areas highlighting the problems of getting Roads Service to do anything that’s asked.

“Resurfacing, embankment slippage, overhanging trees, potholes, blocked roadside channels and unanswered emails – to name but a few [issues] – were all raised at the meeting.

“Mr. Healy promised to look into all the above and get back to me.”

Councillor Greene stressed: “This is serious, because if a pothole is reported and not fixed, DFI are liable for any damage caused, but if the report disappears from the system, there is no proof that the pothole was ever reported, leaving DFI not liable.

“It’s very disappointing. As an elected representative, I get reports of potholes and other road defects on a regular basis, and the least people should expect is Road Service taking this seriously.”

He added: “I truly believe Fermanagh is the forgotten county, as far as roads and other infrastructure are concerned.

“I have tried to get the statistics [about such issues] from DfI, but it’s almost impossible to obtain anything that makes sense.”

When contacted, a DfI spokesperson said: “The Department was notified of potholes on Grogey Road and Cooneen Road in December, 2022, and will arrange to inspect the road and prioritise any defects, meeting current intervention levels for repair in accordance with established timescales.

“The Department is aware of reports that faults logged within the online fault reporting system have been removed.

“Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause.”