Minister of State Tony Killeen T.D. has urged Clare Local Authorities to ensure that an adequate level of winter road maintenance is undertaken across the County during the Christmas period.The Clare T.D. said that forecasts of severe frosts will present dangers to motorists and pedestrians during one of the busiest times of the year on our roads. Met Eireann is predicting that Clare will experience sub zero air temperatures at night from this weekend. The cold conditions are expected to last into the New Year.
As part of the national roads budget the Department of Transport allocates to local authorities each year, it includes a provision for winter road maintenance. It is critically important that the Council actively grits national and regional roads across Clare,” stated Minister Killeen. He continued, “I would ask the local authority to heed the advice of the Department of Transport and ensure special attention is paid to gritting heavily trafficked routes in order to reduce the maximum number of accidents possible. The safety of motorists is of paramount importance and every effort must be made to keep our roads as safe as possible. Gritting icy roads will save lives.”
“Where possible the Council should also grit footpaths so as pedestrians, particularly the elderly, do not suffer injury as a result of the icy conditions,” he added.
