Snow/ice and Storm Éowyn clean up detailed at council meeting in Laois 

Council staff in the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District spent six days clearing snow and ice in early January and cleared 64 fallen trees before Storm Éowyn hit less than a fortnight later. 

Details of the work carried out by council staff attached to the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District 

Laois Council Senior Executive Engineer, Philip McVeigh said council staff were active clearing snow and ice from roadways and footpaths during the Orange Low Temperature Snow/Ice warning from January 5 to 11. 

“Responded to Status Orange low temperature/snow/ice weather event the second week in January. From January 5 th to January 11 th – six days clearing snow/ice on footpaths and roads across the road network and 64 fallen trees were attended to,” the council progress report noted. 

They then responded to the aftermath of the Status Red Storm Éowyn on January 24.

“A substantial number of fallen trees were attended to on public roads across the Portarlington and Graiguecullen Areas,” he said.

Council staff had to check bridge openings after the storm in order to remove all trees and fallen debris from rivers. They removed a fallen tree from Millbrook Manor and industrial estate and carried out a crown reduction of a tree in St Brigid’s estate, he said. 

The council also  responded to several after-hours callouts related to oil spillages and road traffic accidents after the storm. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy congratulated staff on their work and said, “well done during the storm and the snow.” 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan complemented the outdoor staff. He said a lot of time was spent clearing roads that were blocked by Coillte trees and he wanted to know whose budget that work came out of. 

“That came out of our budget,” Mr McVeigh said, adding that Coillte had also carried out clearance work.

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“We have enough to do without doing Coillte’s work,” said Cllr Brennan. He noted the council had spent three days clearing one road which had around 60 fallen trees on it. 

“Our budget is skimpy enough,” said Cllr Brennan. 

Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan commended the council staff for their work.