Kilkenny County Council has received extra funding to prepare for extreme weather conditions.
Minister Phil Hogan welcomed the Department of Transport’s allocation of an extra €39,813 to assist the council deal with winter maintenance and to keep important roads clear.
“We must do everything we can to prepare Ireland for extreme weather conditions. Every extreme winter in recent years has seen salt stocks running perilously low,” said Minister Hogan.
“Hopefully, local authorities will have access to sufficient supplies of salt this year, and sufficient resources to spread it, as a result of this extra funding.
“We have no way of knowing whether another severe winter is on the way. But we must do our very best to be prepared.”
“The extra €1.25 million nationally, along with the direct purchase of some 60,000 tonnes of salt, was possible through savings in the Department. It means that local authorities will have access to some 60,000 tonnes of salt, on top of the supplies purchased separately by the National Roads Authority.
“The funding will help to cover the cost of purchasing, transporting, storing and spreading salt, and other works associated with extreme weather conditions.”
