Hauliers vent frustration at NRA 'failures'

The Irish Road Haulage Association has criticised the National Roads Authority (NRA) for failing to adequately grit national primary roads over the past number of days.

They said the authority had "failed" to facilitate the exceptional demand to move freight and to protect the livelihood of haulage operators and their drivers during the busiest time of the year.

Hauliers have raised concerns that the conditions on the national roads have put their businesses as well as the safety of other motorists in general in danger.

They are particularly annoyed that slip roads on the M50 and other motorways have been left untreated leaving hauliers struggling to facilitate the demand to move freight at one of the busiest times of the year.

“The NRA like everyone else had sufficient warning that a cold snap was imminent and that it would make driving conditions treacherous but failed utterly to prepare for that,” said Vincent Caulfield, President of the Association.

“Our members are working in extremely difficult circumstances to move freight without any assistance from any of the organisations who have responsibility for the safe passage of all motorists on national roads"

“Their only strategy seems to be to wait for this current cold snap to dissipate. This is unacceptable to our members throughout the country,” Mr Caulfield said.