In light of the continuing cold weather Cork City Council has been working to ensure the safety of roads and footpaths for traffic and pedestrians in the city.

Cork City Council’s Roads Maintenance division carried out full salting runs for the last four nights on defined salting routes which prioritise main traffic routes, bus routes and other areas such as those adjacent to hospitals, universities and schools.  Footpaths and bridges are also salted especially in the city centre in areas of greatest pedestrian movement.

Currently all Roads Maintenance crews are undertaking salting and gritting operations on footpaths and roads throughout the city and are responding to reports of ice at specific locations.  These operations will continue throughout the day and it is anticipated at this time that there will another full salting run this evening. The City Council has sufficient supplies of salt and grit in stock for the foreseeable future.

The Crisis Management Team  of Cork City council met again today (Wed, Dec 1st  ) and will continue to monitor conditions and take appropriate action.

Cork City Council advises you to continue to follow best practice in the prevailing conditions as earlier advised and ask that you check on elderly or infirm neighbours who may be affected by the conditions.

General Advice:

• Listen to local radio. Check Weather Forecasts http://www.met.ie/
• Be careful when walking or driving in cold conditions — it may have turned to ice.
• Check on vulnerable neighbours.
• Wear good footwear to avoid slips, trips and falls

Driving : 

• Listen to local radio for prevailing road conditions and check www.transport.ie
• Avoid travelling in hazardous conditions.
• If you have to make a journey when snow is forecast, try to wait until the roads have been gritted before travelling. Drivers should adjust speed to suit the weather conditions. Black ice poses a particular hazard as it may not be visible to motorists and pedestrians.
• Allow extra time and drive with caution. Let someone know your route and when you expect to arrive.    

To avoid Frozen Pipes:  

• Wrap a towel around an outside tap. Leave a light on in the attic.
• Open Attic trap door to allow heat in. Leave heating on longer than normal.
• Place a piece of insulation e.g. carpet/matting over your external stopcock.

For further advice/information please use the following links

-  http://www.emergencyplanning.ie/ 

http://www.met.ie/    and for travel see http://www.transport.ie/

 

Cork City Council experiencing delays to waste collection due to weather conditions

 Cork City Council’s waste collection services are experiencing some disruption due to the present adverse weather conditions.

 Customers should continue to present their wheelbins or dry recyclable bags on the appropriate day for collection.

 Cork City Council regrets any inconvenience caused to the public.

Posted under Cork, Cork City, Environment, Politics, South Central, Weather

 Fine Gael Cork South Central Senator, Jerry Buttimer, today (Wednesday) said proposed changes to Communications regulation must not undermine the good work being carried out by our postal workers every day.

Speaking on the Postal Services Bill, Senator Buttimer expressed his concern at the removal of the Universal Service Obligation which guarantees a five day delivery service to every address in the country.

“This Bill will change the way our postal service is run, creating different employment conditions for our postal workers. An Post is currently undergoing its own restructuring process to ensure that it offers the best service possible to the country and we must ensure that any future changes, where legislation is concerned, does not undermine the good work of the staff at An Post. Fine Gael welcomes competition within all aspects of industry but on the pretence that it benefits everyone involved.

“An Post ensured us this year that 84% of letters posted in Ireland to addresses within the State were delivered the next working day. An Post is not broken. It is working well and continues to post yearly profits, with staff processing over three million items of mail, serving 1.7 million customers, every week.

“Postal workers carry out their duties to the highest possible standard while also maintaining the vital link between the home and the community. They continue to operate in a most efficient manner to the extent that we have the eight lowest priced postal service in Europe.

“This Government has done enough damage within rural areas and communities. Fine Gael recognises the vital links that our postal workers in Cork, Dublin, Galway and the rest of country provide. They have genuine concerns with regards to this Bill and I urge the Government to examine this carefully in the best interests of An Post, its staff and all citizens.”

Posted under Communications, Cork, Cork City, Employment, National Work

Senator Jerry Buttimer yesterday spoke out in the Seanad about the fear that consumes every Irish person as Brian Lenihan and this government continues to mislead the Irish people at every possible turn.

I begin by reiterating the request for a debate tomorrow and for the Minister to come to the House. I wish the Minister well today in Brussels. This is about Ireland and about our people. As Senator Harris stated, it is not about a flag or sovereignty; it is about us as people. There must be no capitulation by us as people. We must stand for what we believe in, which is the Irish people and the Irish nation. The Minister has been wrong at every single turn. He has been wrong with every figure he has given. He has been wrong regarding the bank recapitalisation. He has been wrong and he has misled the Irish people and with him has the Government. Let us call a spade a spade.

The Irish people today are absolutely punch drunk. They are afraid, worried, concerned and they want to see leadership. Sadly, it is not coming from our elected Government. It is lacking and missing and this is the reality. The Irish people will rally to the cause if they are given the truth. The Government has lied at every opportunity, including as recently as last Sunday on radio. If it was as simple as abolishing State cars, abolishing the Seanad or bringing captains of industry into government it would be so easy, but it is not. It requires reinventing and reforming government and this is best served by changing the people at the Cabinet table and by changing policies. Above all, we must give the Irish people hope. We must give them an opportunity to dream of tomorrow and that tomorrow will be better than today. This can be done by us in this House and in the Dáil but it requires the Government to be honest. Tell the people the truth, not lies.

Watch Senator Buttimer’s speech on Oireachtas Report on RTE Player. From 15:30 mins onwards. http://bit.ly/cU1Bri

Posted under Cork, Cork City, Economic, Employment, National Work, Uncategorized