Leitrim council well prepared for potential snowy Christmas with several plans in place

With a potentially very cold and snowy winter ahead, talks turned to Leitrim's winter maintenance programme at the budget meeting recently with Cllr Padraig Fallon asking about the council's plans to ensure that the county's road continue to be operational over the darker and frostier months.  

He was speaking after it was revealed earlier this month that Ireland could be in for a white Christmas similar to 2010 as forecasters predict “colder than average” conditions for December.

Vincent Dwyer, head of finance, noted that the council revealed that there are a number of plans in place in order to ensure Leitrim traffic continues to flow over the winter period. "We do have a blizzard plan so there is that aspect to as well so it's not just a case of a winter maintenance; that's actually only a very small part of the group of plans we have in case of weather events and we also have our major emergency plan which we activated back in January. We also have a severe weather plan." 

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Cllr Fallon also took the opportunity to ask bout grants for private wells. "There have been inquiries about it again in the last year and that's all in the context of Uisce Eireann and difficulties getting connected etc."

Mr Dywer said there is an individual well grant available through the department through the rural water section and anyone who's interested can contact Adrian Kielty.

At the same meeting, Cllr Ita Reynolds-Flynn noted that there was an estate in Ballinamore that was due to be taken in charge by the council and asked for an update on that. "It had been promised for a while. We are now coming into the winter and there will be flooding and other things so I would like to see where that is at."

Mary Quinn, head of housing, said that in relation to the the taking in charge of estates, "there was a programme of works done in the estates and there are some issues centring around takeover and Uisce Eireann etc. If you give me the details of the estate you are referring to. 

Cllr Maeve Reynolds asked if all patching units have been removed from the road following the purchase of the council's new velocity patcher. "With the patcher coming in, does that mean all patching units are removed off the road now? Are we planning to get another velocity patcher for 2026 or will it be six weeks before patching can be done in an MD; if the patcher is in Manorhamilton and there needs to be patching done in Dromad for example. Will we be six weeks waiting?"

David Minton, director of services, said that where needed, the velocity patcher will be made available and that there is no intention in this year's budget to acquire a second velocity patcher. 

He stressed: "Where there are critical issues, the roads team will pivot and the velocity patcher will be made available. There is no intention in this year's budget to acquire a second velocity patcher but will review it in the future."