IFA develops four-point strategy to alleviate worst effects of weather

FARMERS, community groups and the local authorities need to stay in close contact over the holiday period to combat the enduring impacts of snow and ice in rural Ireland, according to the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).

The IFA’s executive council has adopted a four-point strategy to alleviate the worst effects of the severe weather conditions on farm families and rural dwellers.

IFA president John Bryan said he has sought a meeting with the National Emergency Response Committee to discuss the IFA’s proposals.

The strategy identifies a number of key measures which should be introduced to reduce the impact of prolonged freezing weather on rural communities, and ensure that people are not isolated from essential services.

Mr Bryan said: “Greater co-ordination and co-operation between farmers, local communities and agencies is required to formulate a speedier and more effective response to the effects of snow and ice.

“Many of our members across our network of almost 1,000 branches have equipment available that can assist in keeping minor and secondary routes open.”

He said the strategy sets out a response to four specific issues that have arisen during the recent harsh weather. He looked forward to a positive engagement with the National Emergency Response Committee as the Strategy contains measures which would go a long way to addressing the difficulties experienced by rural communities.

The IFA’s first suggestion is to ensure adequate access to grit and salt. Each local authority should designate a range of civic amenity sites across the county as grit and salt collection points, during times of severe weather, says the IFA. It adds that each local authority should provide a contact number which rural dwellers can call to request that grit and salt are left in a specific location, in instances where it is not possible to travel to civic amenity sites.

Secondly, the IFA calls for the clearing of “black spots” in rural areas, suggesting that local authorities should enlist the services of a number of farmers on a contract basis in each county, who are available on request to clear particular danger spots in rural areas.

These farmers can use their machinery and other equipment made available by the local authorities, such as snow ploughs, to resolve the difficulties identified.

Procedures such as this take place on an ad-hoc basis in some counties in Ireland currently. However, such procedures operate very efficiently in a structured format in many local authorities in Britain; for example, Yorkshire.

Thirdly, the IFA says that councils must indemnify farmers who grit roads during severe weather, adding that councils must encourage the clearing of snow and ice from footpaths in front of commercial businesses and private households, by clarifying and changing the law so businesses and individuals will not be legally liable when clearing the snow.

Fourthly, in terms of reduced availability to public water supply, the IFA suggests that local radio stations should be informed of all restriction on the supply of water and an indicative timeframe of when the supply will be restored.

Notification of water restrictions should be posted on the local authority’s website; and county councils should provide a recorded message service, listing the times and areas of disrupted water supplies, says the IFA.