Freezing weather - Let’s get our priorities in order

Cork County Manager Martin Riordan has warned that his overtime budget has been cut by 50% and this has resulted in cutting the grit that would normally be put on the roads in icy conditions.

This is a frightening reminder of the country’s financial plight.

The road maintenance budget for secondary and rural roads in Co Cork, which has the most extensive road network in the country, has been cut from €60 million to €40m this year, and it is expected to be cut even further next year. Mr Riordan is predicting that the roads will deteriorate seriously in the next year to 18 months.