Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 46: To ask the Minister for Transport following the severe winter weather of 2009/2010, his plans to ensure that there will be no shortage of salt and grit; the structures of responsibility to deal with gritting on national and non-national roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42651/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State road grants. In January 2010, my Department established a review group to carry out a review of the transport response to the severe weather during the period November 2009 and January 2010. In this review, my Department has recommended that local authorities and the National Roads Authority should work together to put in place framework contracts with a number of salt suppliers and that local authorities should draw down their supplies under these framework contracts and should continue to be responsible for the implementation of the response on the ground. The National Roads Authority has put a framework contract in place, providing for 80,000 tonnes of salt with scope to draw down additional salt supplies as required.

The review also recommended that local authorities should draw up lists of priority routes for treatment during severe weather. Local authorities were asked to publish their winter maintenance plans on their websites in advance of December 2010. This would allow the public to be aware of what routes will be treated in the case of severe weather and the type of intervention envisaged.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister will recall the lack of leadership from himself and his Department last January, which surprised many people involved in this area. I am somewhat reassured that plans have been put in place to ensure there is not a repeat this winter.

I have two specific questions for the Minister. How much salt, which it is appropriate to put on the roads, is currently in storage here? If there is a big freeze next week, are we ready for it?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I remind the Deputy that no local authority ran out of salt and grit during the more than 20 days of sub-zero temperatures.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is simply untrue.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The incident last year, which went on for more than 20 days, caused a problem. Arrangements had to be put in place to move salt and grit from county to county in a number of instances.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

How much salt is stockpiled?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That was done successfully. Up to last year, 61,000 tonnes of salt was available annually. This year, as a result of what happened last year, there is a framework contract in place that provides for 80,000 tonnes of salt to be drawn down

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

How much salt is stockpiled?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will call the Deputy again.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Additional salt is available under this contract.

The priorities are clear and they do not change from year to year. The hierarchy is the motorway system, the national primary system, the national secondary system and local and regional roads of importance.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Will the Minister repeat his answer to the question about whether local authorities ran out of salt last year? Is he suggesting no local authority in Ireland ran out of salt last year during the big freeze when it is a fact that Cork County Council had to supply Kerry County Council with significant tonnage of salt? The Minister should rethink his reply to that.

How much salt is stockpiled in Ireland currently to prepare for the possibility of a big freeze next week or the week after? I do not ask about January; I ask to ensure we are ready for next week.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is enough salt to cater for anything that could happen over the next few days. The way this works is that the salt is brought in over time as needed. The contract last year was for 60,000 tonnes, which had been more than adequate every year for decades before that. Stockpiles are maintained but the salt is generally bought as needed over time. There is not a great deal of sense in stockpiling the 80,000 tonnes of salt in case it is not needed. It does not keep well from year to year. That is the method used in providing the stockpiles but the contract is for 80,000 tonnes. The difficulty that arose last year in many respects was we were reaching our 60,000 tonnes limit, there was a need for salt elsewhere and we faced competition. Cork County Council had its own supply and it was asked to make salt available. The same happened in one or two other local authorities and if the Deputy wants to refer back to the blacks, he will see that I said that individual local authorities had to be helped by other local authorities. That is why the NRA came in to organise it. That is why we are now suggesting that the NRA should continue that in one form or another.