LAST UPDATE | 5 Jan

SCHOOLS WILL DECIDE on a case-by-case basis whether to open or close tomorrow amid severe weather conditions.

Met Éireann has issued multiple Status Orange and Status Yellow weather warnings as heavy rain and snowfall hit the country.

The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) met virtually this morning to discuss the weather and briefed Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister for Local Government Darragh O’Brien on the situation.

59,000 homes, farms and businesses are without power due to the weather conditions. Public transport and sporting events have been disrupted and parents and students are seeking information about whether schools, creches and colleges will open tomorrow.

More potential impacts of the severe weather include hazardous travelling conditions, poor visibility, travel disruption and localised flooding.

Motorists are asked to avoid unnecessary journeys as driving conditions will be hazardous — and never to drive through flooded roads as the depth of the water can be deceiving.

Snow pictured at Glenbeigh, Co Kerry. Kerry is under a Status Orange rain and snow warning. Caroline Griffin Caroline Griffin

Warnings

From 5pm to 8pm, a status orange snow and ice warning is in place for Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, and Munster.

Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan and Munster are under a status yellow warning for snow and ice, valid until midnight.

All of Northern Ireland is under a status yellow snow and ice warning, valid until 6pm this evening. 

All of Ireland will be under a low temperature and ice warning from 5pm this evening until 12pm Thursday, with Met Éireann warning that temperatures will struggle to get above freezing during the day with widespread frost and ice at night.

Schools

The Department of Education, Department of Transport and Bus Éireann met this morning to discuss the impacts of the severe weather on schools.

The Department of Education anticipates that most schools will open as normal tomorrow morning. However, in areas most affected by the weather, some schools may decide to close due to local conditions and safety concerns.

A number of schools have already decided to close tomorrow, especially in Carlow and Kilkenny.

“A decision to close a school is a matter for individual school management authorities around the country as they are best placed to do this in light of local weather conditions, which vary in regions,” a statement from the NECG said.

“As school transport services may operate on rural, secondary roads, which may be untreated, this could result in disruption during a spell of adverse weather. Safety remains the foremost priority,” the statement said.

It added that “if a school plans to close or where transport is affected, communications of all such decisions will issue locally between schools and parents or transport providers and parents”.

“The Department of Education, along with other government departments, will continue to carefully monitor developments with the weather and engage with key stakeholders.”

Likewise, Paul Crone, Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, told RTÉ Radio One earlier that schools will make decisions on a case-by-case basis about whether to open tomorrow. Some schools may opt to open but at a later time than usual, he said.

Decisions about opening or closing Early Learning and Childcare centres rests with the management of each centre the NECG said.

Some of the issues that centres may take into account when making decisions include the conditions in the setting itself, the capacity of the setting to ensure the health and safety of children, the ability of parents and staff to safely negotiate local road conditions and any guidance and direction from principal response agencies like gardaí.

Higher education institutions will likewise make their own decisions about appropriate measures to take. They should have regard to the safety and wellbeing of those on campus, the weather conditions in the area, the availability of public transport and any other criteria they see fit, the NECG said.

Power and water

As of 5.15pm, around 59,000 homes, farms and businesses are without power, especially in counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois and Wicklow.

It’s a jump from the 28,000 that were without power this morning.

ESB Networks crews and partner contractors are deployed in all impacted areas and are restoring power where safe to do so.

Real-time information on power outages and restoration times is available on www.PowerCheck.ie.

Uisce Éireann is appealing for households and businesses to conserve water as its crews try to restore water supply to around 15,000 people in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Tipperary.

A further 33,000 customers in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Kerry and Wexford are at risk of disruption to their water supplies due to high demand and bursts on the network.

The freezing weather conditions are delaying works to repair leaks.

Head of Water Operations Margaret Attridge said: “We are urging households, businesses and farmers to protect outside taps and farm troughs and to check for leaks and to turn off water to exterior pipes or unoccupied premises.”

“Alternatively, people may consider setting the heating for these areas to come on periodically at a lower temperature. This allows warm air to circulate and will help to prevent pipes and tanks from freezing in the cold weather.”

Disruptions

The impacts are expected to include very difficult travelling conditions, poor visibility, travel disruption delays to public transport likely, difficult conditions underfoot, and animal welfare issues, Met Éireann said.

Iarnród Eireann has announced that Cork/Dublin services are facing significant delays due to snow and ice affecting the operation of level crossings.

The railway operator is advising customers that Tralee/Mallow services are also delayed due to earlier fallen trees. Awaiting connections from delayed Cork services to Limerick/Limerick Junction and Limerick/Ballybrophy (via Nenagh) services arebeing replaced with bus transfers.

It said that all routes will operate but that customers should allow additional time to reach stations in areas affected by snow and icy conditions and to be aware that delays may occur.

“We are working around the network to minimise delays and ensure customers reach their destinations safely,” it said.

Dublin Airport has asked passengers to arrive in plenty of time for their journey.

Seven inbound flights and seven outbound flights were cancelled to/from Dublin Airport earlier this morning after rain and sleet overnight.

The airport had expressed concern about a threat of snow this afternoon but a more recent update confirmed it has seen no snow – “but plenty of rain”.

Meanwhile, the All-Ireland club football semi-final between Errigal Ciaran and Dr Crokes that was meant to take place today was postponed following a pitch inspection at Laois Hire O’Moore Park yesterday.

The courts service has announced that Carlow and Kilkenny Courthouses will not open tomorrow.

Court offices opening times and court sittings have been put back to noon tomorrow in Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary. 

Additional reporting by Lauren Boland