I think the Councils are doing a pretty good job, but they should, or someone should, be putting pressure on local communities to look after their immediate areas. Footpaths and estate roads are really the responsibility of the neighbours. Community action can work wonders and can help build a real sense of neighborhood. Besides with everyone out digging, shoveling and sweeping, the craic can be mighty. Just assign those who can’t dig to distributing the hot toddys and sangwiches!! Don’t expect others to look after you, especially state agencies, otherwise they’ll be looking for more taxes and charges to pay for our laziness. Don’t forget to check in on the elderly and infirm. Bring out the seasonal good will and Christmas Cheer.

The road at the side of our houses, which lead onto the main road, is never gritted and is constantly shaded by trees so it doesn’t thaw. There have been numerous fender benders there and people park there, on double yellow lines, to go to the town center, which means you risk sliding into illegally parked cars. It is the only roadway out of the estate.

Given the fact that they have no control over the salt supplies (all down to the NRA) I’d say Sligo Co Co are coping fairly well. All N roads gritted and lots of local crews out on side roads etc.

This year’s response has been more prompt than last year’s, although many backroads, even in the very city centre, remained treacherous with patches of black ice for days before the thaw.

You’ve got a good point there. Not everyone has a garden shed with a few implements of destruction. Least councils could do is help out around flat land and apartments.

Comment from Donegal. If the NRA had left us alone and let Donegal Co Council do their own thing like we always had to do before, it wouldn’t be so bad. as it is, we have gritters our doing their best, the Army is helping out and the mountain rescue, but the lack of salt is going to affect us more than anyone else…why? cos we’re at the other end of the country! work it out! why couldn’t we get our salt from the North like always? sometimes it’s better when the rest of the country leaves us alone, like they usually do…

@Cormac It would be brilliant, as you say. I saw many people doing so in the neighborhood of Ranelagh. But I’d expect that local communities provided at least shovels and grit