'Bring back the men with shovels' to carry out basic road clearing work after storms in Kerry

There have been calls in Co Kerry in the aftermath of Storm Desmond, to “bring back the men with the shovels” to walk the roads and carry out basic age-old work such as clearing gullies, drains, and the eyes of bridges.

Roadworkers and crews have not been replaced in almost a decade in Kerry and the effects of natural events such as Storm Desmond are worsened when water courses are blocked, according to public representatives.

Kerry has 2,400 bridges on the road network. Blocked bridges and the need to clear watercourses have been the subject of council motions in recent months.