The cold snap which is due to return today and for the upcoming week is a cause of concern to many people who are resident in rural areas who become housebound when conditions deteriorate.
Weather forecasts for the weekend ahead are more freezing conditions and icy roads leading to many being trapped indoors while the conditions remain inclement.
Troops from the third Infantry Battalion located at Stephen’s Barracks, Kilkenny, have recently been actively involved in providing aid to the local authorities in Kilkenny and south-east region, during the arctic conditions.
Troops from the unit, particularly drivers, were deployed in up to six teams on a daily basis to bringing HSE nurses to patients, in counties Carlow and Kilkenny.
The teams assisted in transporting patients to CareDoc and transporting nurses from the Blood Transfusion Board to their clinics around Laois, Carlow and Kilkenny while also delivering emergency medication as required, and clearing snow at hospitals in Kilkenny and Castlecomer.
The unit operations officer Lt Declan Barrett stated, “during the period, troops conducted a total of 50 patrols in the Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Laois and Waterford areas and completed almost 10,000kms in their support to the local authorities during the adverse weather period”.
The deployment was centrally coordinated through the Kilkenny county manger and the Garda Siochana.
However, it looks like the aid will not stop there, as if the arctic weather continues, the assistance of the army will be required again this week.
