asked the Minister for Local Government if the Dublin Corporation have an effective plan for cleaning the roads of snow and ice; and, if so, if such a plan was put into operation during the recent freeze-up.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Snow Clearance in Dublin.
14.
This is a matter for Dublin Corporation who have informed me that emergency procedures are available to keep snow, or ice-bound city streets open to traffic, and that these were put into operation on the morning of Friday, 14th February. The effectiveness of such procedures on any particular occasion may be affected by the severity of the emergency and the extent to which it could have been foreseen, and is subject to review in the light of experience.
Did the Minister hear that the explanation given was that the arrangements were put into operation at 6 a.m. and that it was as a result of what happened subsequently that the big pile-up occurred? Would the Minister know why the procedures were not repeated when it was found that the water which had been formed at the big hills had re-frozen and that this caused the trouble?
I read that report in the paper. I think the procedures were repeated later.
Could the Minister say why there was a 2½-hour delay across town that morning?
They were not repeated until the delay occurred.
Why were they not repeated?
Delays of that kind are inevitable when you get severe conditions and where the remedies are put into operation afterwards.
Would the Minister say if he ever saw such delays before?
I certainly did.
I did not and I am a long time in town.