Dublin – City Wide

Dublin City Council usually spreads 500 tonnes of salt annually.

As we all know, winters have for been mild in the past decade. The bad winters I remember were 1963 – (Manchester United Played Coventry at Milltown in a 3-3 draw on a frozen pitch to a jammed ground – United Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and company were cheered to the rafters in the first half but as they started to get a bit rough with Coventry, the crowd turned to cheering for the light blues. The game was hugely entertaining. I know – I was there.) and 1981 when the England match at Lansdowne was postponed
due to the weather. I am allowed reminisce, am I not?

Over the 3 week period to 7th December, the City Council spread 1,600 tonnes of salt on the roads.
Priority was given to national primary routes, Quality Bus Corridors, major Bus routes, and footpaths with high volume.

Northwest Area

Salt, sand, and grit was used to treat all major routes N2, Ballymun Road, and paths around health centres, post offices, shops and major bus stops.

Grit and sand blocks drains and has to be used in a measured way to avoid the next mess which might follow from flooding.

Problems – School Closures

These are a huge problem in this season especially with the cold as many
children receive meals when they arrive at school. A school principal
contacted me to ask the area management could they prioritise school play
yards for gritting to allow the schools to open. Our officials – Brian
Byrne and Margaret Geraghty informed me that the situation will be reviewed
at the weekend and will be contingent on the weather. If this continues, I
will ask Mary Taylor to see if schools in Ballymun can be facilitated.

Criticism of officials by politicians should be tempered by the realisation
that there were few if any political voices raised either at the City
Council or nationally before December 09 demanding a review of the adequacy
of contingency plans for a “big freeze” !