A survey processing mistake at the local council led to a mistaken report that no residents had returned forms for a dual language street sign application on Slieve View in Derrylin, County Fermanagh. After councillors challenged the figures, staff discovered a data handling error and confirmed the application actually met the required support level.

The dual language street sign scheme allows residents to request an additional language, usually Irish, to be placed alongside the English name. Council officials survey all households on the affected street. If at least 15 percent of households respond in favour, the application is approved.

At a previous council meeting, Councillor Declan McArdle of Sinn Fein questioned the reported result for Slieve View, which indicated that none of the 53 surveyed households had sent back a response either supporting or opposing the application. McArdle stated he had visited homes and was certain that many residents had returned their forms. He suggested postal delays might have played a role.

SDLP Councillor Adam Gannon also said he found the figures unusual. Both members called for the matter to be reviewed.

Chief Executive Alison McCullagh told the most recent council meeting that an internal check had revealed the problem. Two staff members had each assumed the other was handling the Slieve View data, so no responses were recorded. In reality, 17 per cent of households had responded in support of dual signage.

With the corrected figures surpassing the 15 per cent threshold, the council will now proceed with erecting the bilingual street sign in Derrylin.