gormless minister

foggy_lad

john gormley the minister with responsibility for the gritting of roads has said on RTE news at one that local authorities will source grit and salt for the roads wherever possible but the only company importing salt into the republic has said they are only getting a small quantity today/tomorrow which is mostly allocated and getting more could take a week or more, so where is the minister getting his grit/salt from? there is nothing available where are the local authorities going to source "nothing" from?

force eleven

Beschoffs should have a fair bit. Failing that, Supermacs.

Its a joke though. I'm surprised he didn't blame the cold spell on 'climate change'....:rolleyes:

foggy_lad

force eleven wrote: »

Beschoffs should have a fair bit. Failing that, Supermacs.

Its a joke though. I'm surprised he didn't blame the cold spell on 'climate change'....:rolleyes:

he did mention it was the coldest spell since 1963 but i remember '82 and the snow piled up against a neighbours house leaving them only the upstairs windows for access untill they were fully dug out! he also siad the nra were tasked with keeping the roads gritted. he couldnt answer the most basic of questions and sounded like he just wanted to make a statement that we would all accept and applaud his efforts.

My name is Mud

foggy_lad wrote: »

john gormley the minister with responsibility for the gritting of roads has said on RTE news at one that local authorities will source grit and salt for the roads...

Correct me if im wrong here....

Is it not the city council that is responsible for this? And if so, no Green Party members are on Dublin city council. How is this anything to do with Gormley?

hobochris

There was plenty of rock salt(next to the black pepper) in dunnes yesterday

saeglopur

joe duffy is on the case here. 5 companies offering grit in about 10 mins of him putting out the SOS. one even offering it for free. making all the local authorities claims that they are running out of supplies rather silly

Heroditas

Wouldn't Noel Dempsey be the person to make these statements? Isn't it his responsibility rather than Gormley's?
I know he's off on his holidays (that's another matter altogether)

foggy_lad

Heroditas wrote: »

Wouldn't Noel Dempsey be the person to make these statements? Isn't it his responsibility rather than Gormley's?
I know he's off on his holidays (that's another matter altogether)

maybe they are all leaving it up to gormley to shoot hiumself in the foot because he would not be missed if forced to resign over the gritt issue?

byhookorbycrook

It is the absent transport minister who has the responsibility, typical FF, blame someone else.

Sponge Bob

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

It is the absent transport minister who has the responsibility, typical FF, blame someone else.

Very true.

1. Salt and Grit are NOT the same thing Plenty of grit about.
2. Dempsey is responsible for gritting policy and funding, he is on an EU junket somewhere warm right now and does not care what happens.
3. Gormley is responsible for paying local authorities to go out and do the work in their areas.

spongeman

foggy_lad wrote: »

he did mention it was the coldest spell since 1963 but i remember '82 and the snow piled up against a neighbours house leaving them only the upstairs windows for access untill they were fully dug out! he also siad the nra were tasked with keeping the roads gritted. he couldnt answer the most basic of questions and sounded like he just wanted to make a statement that we would all accept and applaud his efforts.

If 1982 had happened this week then we would be even more shagged than we are now.

Surprised he did'nt announce another carbon tax on the snow.

Stupid Greens.

BrianD

foggy_lad wrote: »

john gormley the minister with responsibility for the gritting of roads has said on RTE news at one that local authorities will source grit and salt for the roads wherever possible but the only company importing salt into the republic has said they are only getting a small quantity today/tomorrow which is mostly allocated and getting more could take a week or more, so where is the minister getting his grit/salt from? there is nothing available where are the local authorities going to source "nothing" from?

In fairness to the minister, he is not responsible for gritting roads. The local authorities are. These are the same people who are popping yo on radio stations looking for a state of an emergency or a national response to deflect attention away from their mismanagement of the current situation.

What I would like to see Mr. Gormly is to go on record and tell the councils to get the finger out and stop dithering and making excuses.

The local authorities are responsible for buying the grit. Every year, they put out annual tenders for all these materials. It seems to me that many took gamble that they wouldn't need grit and made a saving. If so they should have covered themseves with a contingency.

Having said that, it looks like the councils have messed up so bad it looks like it will have to be central government that sorts it out.

spareman

BrianD wrote: »

In fairness to the minister, he is not responsible for gritting roads. The local authorities are.
Having said that, it looks like the councils have messed up so bad it looks like it will have to be central government that sorts it out.

Local authorities cannot afford to grit the roads, thats the problem here, not lack of grit, lack of funding, and how anyone could say it's not the governments fault is beyond me but there ya go.

snappieT

spareman wrote: »

Local authorities cannot afford to grit the roads, thats the problem here, not lack of grit, lack of funding, and how anyone could say it's not the governments fault is beyond me but there ya go.

SURELY the economic cost of people not being able to get to work, damaging their cars* in crashes and having difficulty to get into town to do some shopping is far far greater is higher than the cost of putting a bit of grit on the roads...

*inb4 "the repair cost will add to GDP" nonsense

spareman

snappieT wrote: »

SURELY the economic cost of people not being able to get to work, damaging their cars* in crashes and having difficulty to get into town to do some shopping is far far greater is higher than the cost of putting a bit of grit on the roads...

*inb4 "the repair cost will add to GDP" nonsense

Agree, also the flood of claims to the council over ungritted roads and foot paths, but they simply dont have the funding for grit, and how anyone can blame them rather than the government bewilders me.

foggy_lad

The local authorities are responsible for buying the grit. Every year, they put out annual tenders for all these materials. It seems to me that many took gamble that they wouldn't need grit and made a saving. If so they should have covered themseves with a contingency.

what gob****e is responsible for sourcing grit/salt from spain when sand from any beach around the country will do the same job!

bmaxi

foggy_lad wrote: »

what gob****e is responsible for sourcing grit/salt from spain when sand from any beach around the country will do the same job!

This question was asked of, I think, the Wexford County engineer, he said it blocks the drains.

JHMEG

foggy_lad wrote: »

what gob****e is responsible for sourcing grit/salt from spain when sand from any beach around the country will do the same job!

There is one company in Cork importing salt from Spain.

The CEO was on the radio at lunchtime, and he said the NRA were mistakenly telling all the local authorities that they were the only company with salt and to get it from them. The NRA also seemed to incorrectly tell some local authorities that the company was based in Limerick.

BrianD

spareman wrote: »

Local authorities cannot afford to grit the roads, thats the problem here, not lack of grit, lack of funding, and how anyone could say it's not the governments fault is beyond me but there ya go.

I simple do not believe this. All local authorities have been stating that it's lack of grit/salt and not equipment or manpower. They have the equipment and the staff are on the payroll.

If the labour cost of gritting is exceeding their budgets then it would make sense for them to apply to central government for additional funding. In the meantime there is nothing stopping them going out in doing it.

I would hazard a guess that in past years, councils haven't used the money they set aside for gritting. It then gets spent elsewhere. This year they have been caught on the hop.

Beach sand won't do the same job as "grit".

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

DDigital

Brian Dobson - Where's the minister for transport?

John Gormley - We don't know where he is.

:D:D

foggy_lad

Scien wrote: »

Gormley was just on the 6.1 saying that there's 14,000 tons left for the Country which, if conditions remain the same, will last "a couple of days".
The next order of salt is 7 days away he also said. :eek:

DDigital wrote: »

Brian Dobson - Where's the minister for transport?

John Gormley - We don't know where he is.

:D:D

hence the thread title! the green party should not be in power as they are clearly showing a lack of any ability to get any job done. and brian cowan was just as useless on the issue of grit/salt passing the buck to the met office the greens the councils and anyone except himself.

DDigital

foggy_lad wrote: »

hence the thread title! the green party should not be in power as they are clearly showing a lack of any ability to get any job done. and brian cowan was just as useless on the issue of grit/salt passing the buck to the met office the greens the councils and anyony except himself.

In fairness Foggy, the poor sod has been thrown to the lions while the transport minister is on a sun lounger somewhere. While Im not a green supporter at least he's stepping up to the plate in some way. Personally that other eejit Dempsey should be cutting his holiday short and getting his ass back here to look after the transport side of things.

foggy_lad

i fully agree that he has been throw to the lions but that is what the greens were dragged into government for as they have no real power to affect any real change and would serve the people that voted for them better by staying as part of the opposition.

and really he has made statements on radio today contradicting himself and talking himself around in circles like a dog chasing its tail. while there is still no salt or grit to be had for a week he says the NRA have been tasked to get adequate supplies and he says they will! but there is none to be had unless it can be magicked out of the sky in the place of the forcast snowfall?

eth0_

Scien wrote: »

Gormley was just on the 6.1 saying that there's 14,000 tons left for the Country which, if conditions remain the same, will last "a couple of days".
The next order of salt is 7 days away he also said. :eek:

Why the hell aren't they ordering salt from the salt mine in this country? :mad: And why did they leave it so late to order more salt when we've been in this situation for three weeks?

For a start it produces 3,000 *TONNES* per day, and secondly - why are we sending taxpayer's money to Spain when that money could be kept within the island of Ireland by using the Irish salt mine in N.Ireland?

Alun

eth0_ wrote: »

Why the hell aren't they ordering salt from the salt mine in this country? :mad: And why did they leave it so late to order more salt when we've been in this situation for three weeks?

For a start it produces 3,000 *TONNES* per day, and secondly - why are we sending taxpayer's money to Spain when that money could be kept within the island of Ireland by using the Irish salt mine in N.Ireland?

... and ALL of that output is going to existing customers in NI and Britian as far as I can tell. They're working flat out at the moment and just can't produce any more apparently.

Pablo Sanchez

DDigital wrote: »

In fairness Foggy, the poor sod has been thrown to the lions while the transport minister is on a sun lounger somewhere. While Im not a green supporter at least he's stepping up to the plate in some way. Personally that other eejit Dempsey should be cutting his holiday short and getting his ass back here to look after the transport side of things.

He is the minister for local government and therfore the gritting (or otherwise).

DDigital

Ok Im going to open myself up to huge redicule.

Despite the lack of grit, I'm stunned at the continued inability of our Government to manage a situation in a half decent manner. Just basing things on what Ive personally witnessed on my travels and in the vicinity of my home, why the Gardai and council workers are not at least on the roads doing something to assist the flow of traffic in poor conditions is baffling.

Only now are we hearing that the army MIGHT be brought in to assist. Only now are we hearing that the Government MET to discuss the situation. It isn't really good enough that the response is late and laboured. We can argue to death about the grit supply and freaky weather conditions, but as a nation we did in fact need our so called Government to react swiftly by taking a firm control of things. An environment minister sorting out county councils. An agriculture minister addressing a sector in real trouble. An education minister that doesn't pass the buck. A transport minister that isn't stretched out in the sun. Todays pitiful and flustered reaction is an insult to us. We try to get to work in crappy conditions, putting our own safety at risk in order to keep the economy in some form of operative state. What do we get for that? A total and absolute let down from Government.

With more snow possible on Sunday and no grit or plan of any standing in place, at what point do those of us just tell employers, "listen Im sorry, but I just can't get into work and its not an excuse, its a reality aided by an incompetent Government."

DDigital

Pablo Sanchez wrote: »

He is the minister for local government and therfore the gritting (or otherwise).

He has been tasked with putting together a plan to aid the movement of traffic on the roads. Gritting is just one factor. There are many others. The transport minister should be hauled back to his department to do his bit. The NRA are his remit in line with organising the Garda traffic corp to assist. Sorting this mess out is a multi departmental thing and not just a John Gormley thing.

steph1

Well I am self employed and I drive for a living and I have not been able to do my business this last week as the roads are too dangerous especially at night with the freezing conditions.
Maybel if everybody did that - just did not turn up to work for a day or two telling their employers that they cannot get transport or just refuse to drive as its too dangerous (especially for those who have a long commute) and let the country grind to a halt. Something would be done then and very quickly. It just goes to show with all the bodies that are in place and nothing seems to be sorted and each one passing the buck and the blame on each other. We are a disgrace and a joke of a country

eth0_

It feels like our government has completely given up on this country.

There is a ten fold increase in A&E visits at the moment because of the ice. Huge numbers of people are literally trapped in their houses.

The roads authority says it's the local councils job to grit pavements and minor roads.
The councils say it's the responsibility of the roads authority. And where is our transport minister? On holiday! Transport links in the country are at crisis point and he doesn't feel like cutting his holiday short. He should be forced to resign.

The ridiculous thing is, it's such a small amount of ice and snow causing these problems. We must be the laughing stock of Europe.

DDigital

Noel Dempsey should be fired if he's not back behind his desk tomorrow.

spongeman

Dempsey should be fired now, along with the gob****e thats in charge of DCC.

I was in Ringsend today and the old ladies trying to get around was a bloody disgrace. I was so angry.

edward croker

This is what happens when a country becomes such a "Nanny State" that the "sheeple" accept whatever is thrown their way. Can you imagine if there was a real disaster natural or otherwise? How effective would the government response be? The response to the recent flooding and now this cold snap is nothing short of a scandal.
I used to laugh when I'd hear people 2-3 years ago talking about "richest country in Europe" etc. The truth is that unfortunately Ireland's F****ed.
How can there not be enough salt for the roads? The person responsible should be immediately relieved of their position.
But what will happen is nothing, because the people get the government they deserve.

slimjimmc

eth0_ wrote: »

It feels like our government has completely given up on this country.

There is a ten fold increase in A&E visits at the moment because of the ice. Huge numbers of people are literally trapped in their houses.

The roads authority says it's the local councils job to grit pavements and minor roads.
The councils say it's the responsibility of the roads authority. And where is our transport minister? On holiday! Transport links in the country are at crisis point and he doesn't feel like cutting his holiday short. He should be forced to resign.

The ridiculous thing is, it's such a small amount of ice and snow causing these problems. We must be the laughing stock of Europe.

We're far from the laughing stock of Europe. Ireland is not unique in finding this abnormal cold spell difficult to deal with. The UK with it's vastly greater resources is also severely affected and has the same problems. All day today Sky News and other UK news broadcasts have been reporting exactly the same problems of dangerous icy unsalted roads, only a few days left in their deminishing salt stocks, dangerous/difficult travelling conditions, footpaths not salted and a 10-fold increase in A&E due to slips and falls. They've also been asking the same questions, why was this allowed to happen, when is going to end, what happens when the salt runs out. The answers were also the same... doing our best, weather unprecidented, etc.

People complain so much about what the council/gov haven't done in preparation for this situation, some justified, some not. I ask what have the people done to prepare themselves. How many motorists have fitted winter tyres or snow tyres? How many people have stocked up on food and fuel to avoid going out, or have generators in case of power failure? There's a lot people can do to help themselves in these conditions. Life seems to go on in other countries where roads/paths are snowed and frozen.

DDigital

The general concensus at county council level is that the usual winter supply of grit was used up in a much shorter timescale due to the "freakish" weather. This is accepted by many and then backed up with hum drum economics. However, it is abundantly clear that existing stocks of grit were always inadequate anyway as over the last number of years we have seen micro versions of the current weather and no gritting done.

As far back as I can remember, even a three day ice event, caused chaos on the roads with insufficient gritting carried out. I once took this up with a local councillor during the celtic tiger years. He shrugged his shoulders and told me that this aspect of council activity is considered minimal due to the low level of incidence. I was also told that in my area, there is no particular monitoring of weather forecasts and gritting, when carried out, is usually a reactive measure after the ice has taken over the roads. The approach was one of look/see/react.

It is a proven fact that Ireland is prone to frosty conditions in winter. Snowfall is not as common. As a nation we have consistantly failed to deal with icy conditions on our roads despite the massive increase in council budgets during the good times. This poor reaction from the state has nothing to do with money and more to do with an absence of any proper plan or will to deal with emergency situations.

I note that the current forecast is predicting heavy snowfall for Sunday, just as we run out of grit. While its still far from an accurate forecast, I really do hope it doesn't happen as it will cause undue hardship to so many. The Government may well be happy to refer to this weather as unprecedented, but its increasing our heating bills and making it difficult for many of us to work which makes it difficult to pay the heating bill. A simple analogy I know, but if its made a little easier for us in work terms, then we can muddle through it. The Government have a duty to help us use the infrastructure and carry out our jobs. So far they have failed in that duty and ignored the very obvious productive cost to the country.

spongeman

Good post there.

After new years eve the government needed to be ready, and they just hoped for the best.

They were guessing.

BrianD

DDigital wrote: »

The general concensus at county council level is that the usual winter supply of grit was used up in a much shorter timescale due to the "freakish" weather. This is accepted by many and then backed up with hum drum economics. However, it is abundantly clear that existing stocks of grit were always inadequate anyway as over the last number of years we have seen micro versions of the current weather and no gritting done.

As far back as I can remember, even a three day ice event, caused chaos on the roads with insufficient gritting carried out. I once took this up with a local councillor during the celtic tiger years. He shrugged his shoulders and told me that this aspect of council activity is considered minimal due to the low level of incidence. I was also told that in my area, there is no particular monitoring of weather forecasts and gritting, when carried out, is usually a reactive measure after the ice has taken over the roads. The approach was one of look/see/react.

It is a proven fact that Ireland is prone to frosty conditions in winter. Snowfall is not as common. As a nation we have consistantly failed to deal with icy conditions on our roads despite the massive increase in council budgets during the good times. This poor reaction from the state has nothing to do with money and more to do with an absence of any proper plan or will to deal with emergency situations.

I note that the current forecast is predicting heavy snowfall for Sunday, just as we run out of grit. While its still far from an accurate forecast, I really do hope it doesn't happen as it will cause undue hardship to so many. The Government may well be happy to refer to this weather as unprecedented, but its increasing our heating bills and making it difficult for many of us to work which makes it difficult to pay the heating bill. A simple analogy I know, but if its made a little easier for us in work terms, then we can muddle through it. The Government have a duty to help us use the infrastructure and carry out our jobs. So far they have failed in that duty and ignored the very obvious productive cost to the country.

I disagree the notion that central government is to blame here. Though it is looking increasingly likely that they will have to step in and put the boot in with the councils.

The plan is in place and simple. The councils get out and do their job. There's no mystery here. It's the same in any other country. We have a local authority network who deal with this type of problem in their area. The best placed to do it and thats why we have them. Similarly, we have regional organisation of civil defence and gardai and other bodies. This is the best way to deal with this type of "emergency". Is it an emergency? Definitely not.

Really what needs to happen as soon as we have the thaw is that alot of these fat councillors and their council management need to be called to book for their mis management. Primetime are talking about people living up bohereens, Perhaps if councillors weren't so liberal with their one off housing planning permission we might be able to better look after them.

DDigital

slimjimmc wrote: »

We're far from the laughing stock of Europe. Ireland is not unique in finding this abnormal cold spell difficult to deal with. The UK with it's vastly greater resources is also severely affected and has the same problems. All day today Sky News and other UK news broadcasts have been reporting exactly the same problems of dangerous icy unsalted roads, only a few days left in their deminishing salt stocks, dangerous/difficult travelling conditions, footpaths not salted and a 10-fold increase in A&E due to slips and falls. They've also been asking the same questions, why was this allowed to happen, when is going to end, what happens when the salt runs out. The answers were also the same... doing our best, weather unprecidented, etc.

People complain so much about what the council/gov haven't done in preparation for this situation, some justified, some not. I ask what have the people done to prepare themselves. How many motorists have fitted winter tyres or snow tyres? How many people have stocked up on food and fuel to avoid going out, or have generators in case of power failure? There's a lot people can do to help themselves in these conditions. Life seems to go on in other countries where roads/paths are snowed and frozen.

With the greatest of respect to you and I mean that, you must realise that what the UK is experiencing is far worse than us in weather terms. Ireland has consistantly failed to deal with moderate winter weather. What we are experiencing is only unprecedented in length and it was forecast. Nobody expects every little byway to be treated, but yesterday a capital city ground to a halt due to a few cms of snow. Similarly last year the N7 at Rathcoole was crippled by an intense snow shower that was forecast. No prior gritting was carried out and commuting chaos was the result. As a nation we must accept that the Government have no idea how to cope with extreme weather. Nor do they want to prepare the country for it.

Since I was a child perlonged sunny weather causes water shortages and frost causes deplorable road conditions and rain causes floods. When does a Government step up to the plate and address it longterm. After the big snow of 82 we bought a couple of snowploughs as a result of inquiries into how the country was at a standstill. Nothing else was achieved out of all that talk shop nonsense.

I agree wholeheartedly with your points on what people can actually do for themselves to make things easier and safer. But ultimately its up to a Government to have plans and actions ready to go and information systems in place to educate the public. We manage it for speeding/drink driving etc.

Apologies for these long posts but I guess Im as angry and frustrated by all this as others are. Just trying to throw my 2 dollars worth in.

spongeman

They need to get out and do their job.

Couldnt have put it any better.

DDigital

BrianD wrote: »

I disagree the notion that central government is to blame here. Though it is looking increasingly likely that they will have to step in and put the boot in with the councils.

The plan is in place and simple. The councils get out and do their job. There's no mystery here. It's the same in any other country. We have a local authority network who deal with this type of problem in their area. The best placed to do it and thats why we have them. Similarly, we have regional organisation of civil defence and gardai and other bodies. This is the best way to deal with this type of "emergency". Is it an emergency? Definitely not.

Really what needs to happen as soon as we have the thaw is that alot of these fat councillors and their council management need to be called to book for their mis management. Primetime are talking about people living up bohereens, Perhaps if councillors weren't so liberal with their one off housing planning permission we might be able to better look after them.

I agree with what you are saying, but the overall policy of reaction must be Government driven. For example Kildare CC have a road safety campaign and promote it locally. But it was instigated at Government level in conjunction with the RSA and adopted by the council. We really cannot have a situation whereby individual councils are left to do as the please when situations of national importance are at stake. A classic example is the case of the M7. Gritted by SDCC as far as Blackchurch. Then gritted by KCC from there to Monasterevin. But Laois CC didnt grit their section of it.

eth0_

slimjimmc wrote: »

How many motorists have fitted winter tyres or snow tyres? How many people have stocked up on food and fuel to avoid going out, or have generators in case of power failure? There's a lot people can do to help themselves in these conditions. Life seems to go on in other countries where roads/paths are snowed and frozen.

Oh would you cop on! Where exactly can you buy snow tyres in Ireland? They're not exactly a regular feature in your local Halfords :rolleyes:

Life goes on in countries that are used to this sort of weather, because they DO have snow tyres, and they DO have adeqate supplies of salt.

As another poster has said, you cannot begin to compare the weather in the UK to here. The UK has been hit much harder than us, yet they are coping better. They're not on top of it, but they're definitely doing better than us.

Take a look at Dublin. Not one road gritted in the city centre. Yesterday cars were spinning out and hitting each other on Winetavern street (that steep road from Christchurch to the Liffey). Surely the brainiacs in the council realised this road in particular would be a death trap when covered with ice - I mean it's only located directly next to Dublin council HQ. But no. No grit. And it took an hour for the Gardai to arrive and close the road after cars began spinning and crashing.

The response to this weather and the recent flooding it so embarrassing. I'm sick of the Irish philosophy of "Ah sure, it'll be grand in a few days!" and "Sure it's not my responsibility". God forbid Ireland suffers a major disaster - our government and councils are full of shambling morons.

bmaxi

DDigital wrote: »

Noel Dempsey should be fired if he's not back behind his desk tomorrow.

Dream on. Although I would agee that Dempsey is inept, what he has done / not done is miniscule compared to the monumental f*ck ups of his boss and he's still there. FF don't do firing.

DDigital

bmaxi wrote: »

Dream on. Although I would agee that Dempsey is inept, what he has done / not done is miniscule compared to the monumental f*ck ups of his boss and he's still there. FF don't do firing.

Your dead right.;)

mysterious

Anyone up for a protest, I feel mighty fnie for this. And Noel Dempsey is scum as the rest of them. Hes the biggest ego sucker in there. He does NOTHING. He never did anything for this country, but get the M3 ploughing through the Tara valley. The road is also a toll monopoly

eth0_

mysterious wrote: »

Anyone up for a protest, I feel mighty fnie for this.

This might be a non-runner considering how difficult it is to get into Dublin

JHMEG

eth0_ wrote: »

Why the hell aren't they ordering salt from the salt mine in this country? :mad: And why did they leave it so late to order more salt when we've been in this situation for three weeks?

For a start it produces 3,000 *TONNES* per day, and secondly - why are we sending taxpayer's money to Spain when that money could be kept within the island of Ireland by using the Irish salt mine in N.Ireland?

We are getting a small amount, basically what they have left after they satisfy their UK customers' needs.

Anyone see Gormley on Primetime a while ago? His reasoning about why the Army haven't been called in was a bit old skool: it's not his call, it's up to the local authorities.

The Dublin City manager should be sacked yesterday and the Army should have been called in by the Minister.

DDigital

Local authorities are a disater but ultimately its down to a Government to Govern and they are passing the buck quicker than a flu in a lift.

eth0_

DDigital wrote: »

Local authorities are a disater but ultimately its down to a Government to Govern and they are passing the buck quicker than a flu in a lift.

Exactly! The government is the boss of the local authority. If the local authority aren't doing their job it is the government's responsibility to ensure they do.

There's going to be a lot of people suing local authorities for personal injuries, damaged vehicles etc as a result of this cold snap. Not to mention the additional cost to the HSE if they've been taking on locums and agency nurses to help out in over-stretched A&E departments.

Capt'n Midnight

snappieT wrote: »

SURELY the economic cost of people not being able to get to work, damaging their cars* in crashes and having difficulty to get into town to do some shopping is far far greater is higher than the cost of putting a bit of grit on the roads...

*inb4 "the repair cost will add to GDP" nonsense

unfortunatly that is not a direct cost to the local authorities


the problem with a lot of this country is the bean counters only look at there specific area, look at the whole health system and how much could be saved by giving everyone a yearly checkup instead of waiting until it's very expensive

Capt'n Midnight

DDigital wrote: »

Noel Dempsey should be fired if he's not back behind his desk tomorrow.

according to the paper his road was gritted