Irelands inability to cope with snow

Dudess · 23-12-2010 12:02AM

The last time there were winter weather conditions as severe as this and last year was the early 80s. I can't understand the disingenuous "Oh Ireland shuts down when there's a bit of snow" - firstly, it's not "a bit" of snow, and secondly: of course it does, it's highly unusual. Most winters there's either genuinely just a bit of snow which is manageable, or none at all.

Overheal · 23-12-2010 12:06AM

Another fascinating example with Snow-Coping is the Toronto PATH system: I so badly want to go up and see this myself at some point.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PATH_%28Toronto%29

http://www.clr.utoronto.ca/projects/LI/images/TUN.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oFA6BmnCGI

Einhard · 23-12-2010 12:07AM

Cereal Rapist wrote: »

....Another Gerry Ryan joke, how witty :rolleyes:

Thanks. I'm here all week.

Another :rolleyes:. How original.

Copper23 · 23-12-2010 12:08AM

Dudess wrote: »

The last time there were winter weather conditions as severe as this and last year was the early 80s. I can't understand the disingenuous "Oh Ireland shuts down when there's a bit of snow" - firstly, it's not "a bit" of snow, and secondly: of course it does, it's highly unusual. Most winters there's either genuinely just a bit of snow which is manageable, or none at all.

False.

We suffer from ice on the roads EVERY winter. While the amount of snow THIS year may be unusual for Ireland it is no excuse for us being TOTALLY unprepared for ANY amount of snow/ice as we are.

Anita Blow · 23-12-2010 12:14AM

Copper23 wrote: »

False.

We suffer from ice on the roads EVERY winter. While the amount of snow THIS year may be unusual for Ireland it is no excuse for us being TOTALLY unprepared for ANY amount of snow/ice as we are.

And I'm pretty sure that for the majority of Winters in the past few years (bar this winter and last winter as they were exceptions) were dealt with grand. I don't ever remember there being a huge furore in Winters before last year.
To say we're "TOTALLY unprepared for ANY amount of snow/ice" is a bit sensationalist

oppenheimer1 · 23-12-2010 12:16AM

Copper23 wrote: »

False.

We suffer from ice on the roads EVERY winter. While the amount of snow THIS year may be unusual for Ireland it is no excuse for us being TOTALLY unprepared for ANY amount of snow/ice as we are.

Yes we suffer from ice every year but we are not unprepared for it. The NRA have de-icing equipment to deal with the normal amounts of ice which we get. Its false to say we are completely unprepared. If that was the case there would be no salt or gritting machines in the country at all.

The NRA are fully prepared for normal events but somewhat unprepared for exceptional events. Is this an unreasonable situation?

Copper23 · 23-12-2010 12:17AM

Anita Blow wrote: »

And I'm pretty sure that for the majority of Winters in the past few years (bar this winter and last winter as they were exceptions) were dealt with grand. I don't ever remember there being a huge furore in Winters before last year.
To say we're "TOTALLY unprepared for ANY amount of snow/ice" is a bit sensationalist

I have to disagree... I cannot remember any winter where it has not been a problem. We're not talking about "outside my driveway", we're talking the country as a whole.

Anita Blow · 23-12-2010 12:25AM

Copper23 wrote: »

I have to disagree... I cannot remember any winter where it has not been a problem. We're not talking about "outside my driveway", we're talking the country as a whole.

I'm not talking about outside my driveway.
As has been said, the NRA stocks up on the normal amount of salt needed to deal with a normal winter here and even increased stockpiles after last year.
This year and last year have been the only years where we've been "TOTALLY unprepared" and that's due to the rarity of a really harsh winter here.

Einhard · 23-12-2010 12:26AM

goose2005 wrote: »

Your house burns down once every 1,000 years, is fire insurance a waste of money?

Well if some snow on the road left me homeless and without a means of supporting myself, then your anology would have some merit. As it is, it doesn't.

bbk wrote: »

I agree. ITV news had a very good report on how much it would cost to equip the UK for the snow. The initial outlay would be something in the region of 700 million and then each year a running and maintenance cost (forgot the figure) but but apparently the UK is losing 64 million a day.

10 or 11 days and its paid itself off in the first year?

Yes, but there are a number of variables which neither you nor ITV take into account. Firstly, before this year, we didn't have this level of disruption since at least 2001, and probably well before that. So, for years on end, going by the average, there would be no need for all that expensive equipment.

Secondly, all that equipment depreciates in time, and has to be replaced, not just maintained.

Thirdly, I assume that the £64 million a day includes the cost of grit and salt and associated expenses? If so, that cost would remain unchanged.

If I assume incorrectly, then some of that cost can surely be made up at other times of the year. For example, if I spend less on presents now, I'll more than likely spend more on myself the next time I get into town, in the January sales or whatever.

The point is, ITV seems to have taken the lowest possible cost of equipping the country, and compared that with the maximum possible cost of not doing so, and failed to take into account other costs, and the fact that these conditions are so rare.

Copper23 wrote: »

False.

We suffer from ice on the roads EVERY winter. While the amount of snow THIS year may be unusual for Ireland it is no excuse for us being TOTALLY unprepared for ANY amount of snow/ice as we are.

But we're not totally unprepared. In Scotland, whole sections of the national primary routes, including motorways had to shut down because they were impassable. That hasn't happened in Ireland. Dublin airport has had less disruption than Heathrow. So to say we're totally unprepared is again hyping the situation up entirely.

Mr. Manager · 23-12-2010 12:28AM

Einhard wrote: »

Thanks. I'm here all week.

Another :rolleyes:. How original.

Oh oh, I see what you've done there.

Very clever.

:rolleyes:

Paddy Samurai · 23-12-2010 12:30AM

super_furry wrote: »

Because weather events like this happen once every 20 years and it would be an absolute waste of money to buy a fleet of snow ploughs and the rest of it.

When did that ever stop them..................we would get more use out of a fleet of snow machines than all those electronic voting machines they bought.

darragh16 · 23-12-2010 12:32AM

Isn't the rest of Europe unable to cope with the snow?

Einhard · 23-12-2010 01:25AM

Cereal Rapist wrote: »

Oh oh, I see what you've done there.

Very clever.

:rolleyes:

What can I say, I'm clever and humorous.

Irelands inability to cope with snow

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