Roads warning as temperatures plummet
Motorists are bracing themselves tonight for treacherous road conditions when temperatures plummet as the cold snap continues.
AA Roadwatch warned snow is falling on icy and slushy road surfaces, making routes hazardous nationwide.
Drivers were urged not to make any unnecessary trips and are being asked to avoid the M4 between Kinnegad and Athlone as the road is impassible.
A blizzard of snow this afternoon has led to extremely dangerous driving conditions with a number of people abandoning their cars on the side of the road.
Motorists are being urged to take an alternative route.
Met Eireann has forecast widespread frost and ice, along with further hail, sleet and snow showers over the eastern half of Leinster and parts of east Munster and the south coast.
Meteorologist Pat Clarke said temperatures will remain below zero in a lot of areas over the coming days.
He also warned of gale-force winds along the east coast and pockets of freezing fog, with lowest temperatures dropping to minus 8 degrees Celsius.
“There is no sign of any mild weather yet,” he said.
Hundreds of schools around the country closed for a second day as heavy snowfall settled.
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael spokesperson for older citizens, called on communities and the wider public to pay careful attention to the needs of their older neighbours during the period of cold weather.
“It must be remembered that between 1,500 and 2,000 additional deaths occur during the winter months in Ireland,” she said.
“Many of these are older people who die as a result of respiratory illness or cardiovascular disease due to the cold weather, poor diets, inadequate heating and poorly-insulated homes.”
The Defence Forces said troops are continuing to give assistance to hospice, health and meals on wheels services in Dublin, Cork, Wexford Kildare and Galway city and county.
While rail and bus services are operating with some delays and disruptions, several flights in and out of Dublin airport and ferry services have been delayed or cancelled.
The Health and Safety Authority urged employers and workers to take care in icy conditions.
Senior inspector Anne Maria O’Connor said: “Last year approximately one in five reported accidents to the Authority were as a result of a slip, trip or fall.
“With approximately a quarter of these accidents resulting in absences from work of more than a month, it’s in everyone’s interest that simple safeguards are taken to reduce the risk of workplace falls.”
Elsewhere, eircom said the severe weather conditions continued to affect broadband and telephone customers across the country, particularly in Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow, Dublin city and county where 4,600 faults have been recorded. Approximately 1,000 are in the greater Dublin area.
“With forecasts predicting snow and icy conditions to continue through the week, eircom again asks customers to be patient as we work to repair all faults as quickly as possible,” a spokesman added.
