Mayo's Jim Higgins Outraged as Rural Communities Denied Grit
Jim Higgins Fine Gael MEP for Ireland North West voices his concern over the lack of road grit for rural communities.
"Last year we experienced similar weather, I would have hoped that our local authorities would have learned from past experiences and ordered sufficient quantities of road salt."
The NRA who took over the purchase and distribution of salt to all local authorities this year have announced that they have already depleted their entire year's supply, with no hope of replenishment until after Christmas.
The NRA are urging local authorities to use sand on local roads but it would appear that this has not been done.
"I have heard reports of elderly constituents spreading sand on local roads to provide some level of grip."
"I have been contacted by constituents who cannot get to work, who cannot leave their housing estates and whose children cannot get to school - their worlds have grounded to a halt - because their County Councils won't grit their roads and walkways."
"Like last year the cold spell has added extra pressure to our already struggling A&E services, gritted footpaths would hugely reduce the number of falls."
"I have been in contact with Mayo General Hospital, the HSE headquarters and the Regional Directors of Operations all of whom confirmed the increased pressure on A&E services due to the current cold spell."
Letterkenny hospital has reported a 50% increase on admittance this time last year and Galway has seen a 15 - 20% increase in weekly presentations, 30% of which are due to falls.
We have already endured too many preventable accidents and tragedies as a result of ice rink roads and walkways. Regrettably Mayo has already witnessed two tragedies where elderly people have fallen due to ice.
"The Fine Gael party have been very vocal on calling on Communities to check in on elderly neighbours during the current cold spell, we must be equally vocal about the need for local authorities to grit roads and footpaths."
ENDS
