COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor Derren Ó Brádaigh

To ask the manager to provide a report on the response to the recent severe cold weather episode, outlining any challenges encountered with salt supplies, path and road gritting and if additional salt bins and salt supplies have been replenished.

REPLY:

The recent cold spell provided some operational difficulties as the prolonged cold spells resulted in no daytime thaw of compacted snow. During the spell we spread an estimated 700t of rock salt.

Our salt stocks were adequate with a combined 2000t in our barns at the commencement of the severe weather. 

Road maintenance staff continued to ensure the roads were passable and safe while a number of public realm staff were allocated to footbridges and villages to clear compacted snow.

While the main roads were in a good condition it was acknowledged that estate roads that are inaccessible for our trucks remained quite hazardous for a number of days following the snow. Moving forward we will be reviewing our salt bin policy with the intention of making salt more readily available for members of the public to access