Councils promised more funding to cope with freezing weather

Cash-strapped councils were tonight promised millions of euro to help cope with the big freeze as parts of the country lay paralysed under a blanket of snow.

The arctic conditions have caused further havoc with flights, rail and bus services, court cases, sporting fixtures, entertainment events and functions being cancelled.

Authorities are also keeping a close eye on reservoir levels over fears of water shortages similar to last January as householders ran taps to stop pipes freezing.

As the plummeting temperatures broke weather records, health chiefs warned about the number of children turning up at hospital with injuries sustained on makeshift sleds.

Met Éireann forecaster Ger Fleming confirmed there would be no let up in the bitter cold with another 3 to 5 cm of snow expected in the east coast and mercury levels set to plunge as low as -13C again.

Rain is forecast to move into the west of the country, which should see milder if wetter conditions, ahead of the weekend before a very gradual thaw begins towards next week.

Mr Fleming said it will take at least a week for snow to thaw out in the east of the country, which has allayed fears of flooding which can result from a quick thaw.

As parts of the country remained under several inches of snow, Environment Minister John Gormley was forced to stump up an extra €15m for local authorities to cover costs linked to the extreme weather.

"The current cold weather is starting to break records," he said.

"It has been almost 40 years since we have had snow and ice so early in the winter, and it is unusual for the cold weather to persist so intensely without respite."

As the cold snap continued to take its toll, authorities revealed:

* Road salt is now being rationed as gritters were using three times normal amounts just to keep major routes open.

* Hospitals are seeing as much as a 50% jump in weather-related fractures and injuries while ambulance response times have beet hit.

* Hundreds of schools remain shut while civil cases being heard at the Four Courts had to be postponed.

Dublin Airport also came to a standstill with around 100 flights in and out of the country's main air hub suspended for the second day in a row.

Iarnród Éireann said they have been extraordinarily busy and commuters leave their cars behind and take the train.

Company spokesman Barry Kenny said Connolly Station in Dublin was "like a match day" yesterday with queues up to 15 people deep at the ticket kiosks during rush hours. All rail services are running with delays expected on some routes.

Dublin Bus said all its services are running with curtailments in some suburban housing estates while Bus Éireann said some routes were delayed or cancelled in Louth, Wicklow, Waterford and Wexford.

Sean O'Neill, of the National Roads Authority (NRA), insisted there was no looming crisis in road salt stocks but confirmed grit was now being rationed and not all roads could be treated.

Around 5,000 tonnes of grit was needed to keep the country's main routes passable last night alone.

The NRA has around 50,000 tonnes left but said it was topping up with shipments due in the coming weeks from Egypt and Turkey.

"We are not in a troublesome zone as long as we manage it prudently," said Mr O'Neill.

Michael Phillips, Dublin city engineer, said it had increased water levels in reservoirs close to the capital ahead of the cold snap in a bid to avert a shortage experienced last January as householders ran taps to stop pipes freezing.

But he said water plants were "working full out" and they were keeping a close eye on levels.

"People have been very good to date but there has been a slow increase," he said. "We would like people to continue conserving water."

Hospitals are also coming under more pressure from the big freeze with the number of people needing treatment for fractures sustained in falls up between 20% and 50%.

Health Service Executive (HSE) emergency planning director Gavin Maguire said staff were coping with the increase in patients but warned people to take caution in the ice and snow.

"Consultants are telling me that they are seeing quite a lot of children presenting with injuries," he said.

"We are beginning to see a lot of injuries from kids tobogganing and doing things they are not normally doing. "

Some non-essential health services have also been postponed because of the weather.

Most schools have been shut down in the east and south east of country with rate of closure getting less towards the west, according to the Department of Education.

The Defence Forces said it had 150 troops using 45 off-road vehicles to help authorities around the country.

A team helped in the recovery of an ambulance stranded in icy conditions in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Units were also dispatched to de-ice and grit roads and footpaths in the town and in Drogheda, Newbridge, Kildare and Naas, while a number of soldiers have begun training on spreader vehicles to help over-stretched councils.

Another 50 troops have been deployed around the country to transport medical staff and medicines to isolated patients.

Eircom said around 4,200 of its customers have been left without telephone and broadband because of faults caused by snowfall and freezing temperatures.

It has 600 crews working to restore full services nationwide, with Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow, as well as parts of Kildare and Meath worst affected, the company said.