STORM TRACKER: Follow 'Storm Amy' as it bears down on Ireland amid brutal forecast
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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Laois County Council have said that they will meet to review their response to last week's spell of snow and ice, and are considering the use of local farmers in future to clear local roads.
Director of Services for Laois County Council, Mr Simon Walton, has said that the Council 'got most things right' in their response, and stated that the gritting of all local roads is 'logistically, financially and practically impossible'.
"It was a severe weather event, it brought out unordinary circumstances," said Mr Walton.
"We are meeting next Monday to review our response, and to view the range of availability for salt bins around the county.
"We got most things right, in regards to the sources available to us," he said.
Laois County Council used over 1,260 tonnes of salt on roads, with 14 treatments required over the nine day weather event.
"I salute the staff who went out at 2pm and 2am to treat those roads, in dangerous circumstances for themselves," Mr Walton said.
"It's never enough, and we acknowledge that. We tried to stretch our services as far as we could.
"I want to commend the Civil Defence, but the Civil Defence is part of this organisation. We took over 155 calls for assistance," Mr Walton said.
Laois Civil Defence: Damien Dollard, Mark Stanley, Ciaran O'Mahony, Marian O'Donoghue, Katie Sinnot and Michael York.
"That's where our focus was, and then after that it was on town centres. It wasn't perfect, but there were a lot of footpaths done in order to sustain local businesses.
"I totally acknowledge that it will not change if we have a similar event in a year’s time, you simply cannot stretch to all locations. It’s logistically, financially and practically impossible," he said.
"This council will wholly support a code of practice where subject of certain criteria, the farming community are brought to clear those rural roads. This is a matter for the state, not just the council on its own," Mr Walton finished.
This matter arose at the January sitting of Laois County Council's Portlaoise Municipal District.
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