Gritting salt supply low as temperatures head for -10C

COUNTIES, mainly in the west, are in danger of running out of road gritting salt as temperatures are expected to plunge as low as -10C over the weekend.

The National Roads Authority said a number of councils were running out of rock salt as localauthorities say they have had to use three times more than normal supplies, in the sub-zero temperatures hitting the country over the last few weeks.

The rock salt comes from two locations, Carrickfergus in Co Antrim and Cork. While the northern location is still producing and distributing the salt, it is understood supplies at the Cork production facility have almost dried up.

While most counties have sufficient stocks to maintain the national roads, an NRA spokesman said Roscommon, Mayo, Galway, Clare and Sligo were running very low in supplies.

The spokesman said affected councils were being advised to contact neighbouring authorities to see if they could source some salt.

“There will be 8,000 tonnes of rock salt delivered into Limerick by ship from Co Antrim early next week,” he said, adding that, until then, councils would have to manage as best as possible.

Clare County Council, meanwhile, said it had managed to replenish its stocks with a delivery which had arrived into Limerick on Tuesday night. A spokesman said the demand on its supply had been lightened when it did not have to grit on Wednesday night.

But Fine Gael is insisting the Government needs to wake up to the ongoing weather crisis. Roscommon TD Denis Naughten said the Government should immediately direct the Emergency Planning Office to return from a Christmas break.

“To date, neither the Government nor the Emergency Planning Office has acknowledged the serious nature of the severe weather,” he said.

Mr Naughten said Roscommon was one of the worst affected counties. “The lack of any centralised planning has seen local authorities run out of salt and grit, people marooned in their homes, and roads so treacherous that emergency service vehicles have been involved in accidents. Even the National Roads Authority is warning about lack of co-ordination.”

With forecasters predicting more frost and fog over the next week, Mr Naughten said it was vital the Government started co-ordinating a national response.

“The current system, whereby local authorities act independently, has seen large areas left without any salt or grit supplies to make roads passable. Some elderly people and families have been marooned in their homes for 10 days. Many do not have access to public water, and food supplies are running low. Some people living on their own are now facing their third week without access to community nurses, home help and meals on wheels,” he said.