MIDLANDS:FREEZING conditions were continuing to put pressure on local authorities around the midlands where icy roads and water shortages remained a problem in many areas.
A number of schools were expected to remain closed today as the icy weather prevails.
Offaly County Council staff were working to grit main routes and, where possible, attend to “black spots” but some roads remained treacherous, said council chairman Noel Bourke.
The council had six days of grit and further supplies are expected on Saturday, he said.
In Co Laois some roads, particularly in the south of the county, were described as “very dangerous” by council chairman James Daly.
A number of individual farms and households in Laois had also been left without water as a result of the freezing conditions, he said.
Water shortages were the cause of “major problems” in Co Westmeath where leaking pipes are causing considerable concern. The water supply in and around Mullingar was being cut off from 8pm until 7am each night to replenish water levels in surrounding reservoirs.
EOGHAN Mac CONNELL
SOUTH
MORE THAN 30 primary and post-primary schools in Cork will remain closed today after boards of management decided not to open because of the continuing cold spell.
Bus Éireann regional manager Joe Fitzgerald said the company had been notified by 14 primary and 24 post-primary schools mainly in west, mid and northwest Cork that they would be remaining closed today.
Among the areas where schools are remaining closed are Bantry, Eyeries, Bandon, Dunmanway, Rosscarbery, Macroom, Ballyvourney, Ballingeary, Cannovee, Millstreet, Kanturk, Boherbue, Doneraile, Buttevant, Charleville and Meelin.
BARRY ROCHE
WEST
Poor road conditions, along with burst pipes and heating difficulties, have led to a number of school closures today in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
Fine Gael city councillor and former mayor Padraig Conneely criticised the lack of gritting on Galway streets and said Eyre Square was like an “ice rink”.
Galway City Council said supplies of salt and grit were being applied. However, secondary roads and housing estates are not being treated – with entrances from housing estates on to thoroughfares proving very hazardous.
There were reports of very difficult road conditions in Connemara, due to inadequate gritting.
LORNA SIGGINS
SOUTH EAST
All primary and secondary schools in Co Carlow and dozens of schools in towns and villages throughout Co Kilkenny will remain closed until Monday following a significant deterioration in weather conditions.
Snow fell across both counties yesterday exacerbating already difficult road conditions. By late afternoon, there were long tail-backs on roads leading into and out of Kilkenny city during the evening rush-hour as traffic slowed to a crawl.
Wexford has been hard hit by the current cold spell, while Waterford fared reasonably well yesterday.
“We have had an accumulation of snow on the eastern corridor of the county last night and again todayt, affecting Gorey, Enniscorthy and Wexford town, said Eddie Taaffe, senior engineer in the roads department of Wexford County Council.
“The roads are in poor condition but we were gritting them all day. We are hoping to have a final treatment after dark and again tomorrow morning, he saidaround five oclock yesterday (wed) evening.
MICHAEL PARSONS and ELLA SHANAHAN
NORTH WEST
After overnight snowfalls, roads around Gurteen and Ballymote in Co Sligo were described as “lethal” as was the Boyle-Frenchpark road in Co Roscommon and most routes in north Leitrim, where drivers were urged to travel only if absolutely necessary.
Cars were abandoned on many minor roads, and lakes and rivers have frozen over in the region amid warnings about the dangers to children tempted to walk or skate on the ice.
MARESE McDONAGH