€5m to spend on winter salt

A state agency this year expects to spend at least €5.3m on salt to keep the country’s road network moving during winter blizzards.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland — formerly the National Roads Authority — last year spent €5.3m on the purchasing and spreading of 100,000 tonnes of rock and marine salt across the country’s primary, secondary and local road network.

Communications manager with the agency, Sean O’Neill said yesterday last winter there were 40,000 tonnes of salt spread on the country’s national network with an extra 60,000 tonnes on the country’s local and regional network.