ROADS ARE EXPECTED to be largely clear from protests this morning as schools return after the Easter break.

It follows six days of protests on Irish roads and blockades of fuel terminals and the country’s only oil refinery at Whitegate in Co Cork.

Protests and blockades were largely cleared by yesterday afternoon, although protests on motorways across Ireland persisted into the late evening.

The government announced its €505m fuel support package yesterday evening.

It followed the conclusion of an emergency Cabinet meeting that sought to sign off on measures to appease protesters and put an end to the nearly week-long disruption.

Today, a national strike has been touted online but it remains unclear this morning whether this will concretely materialise or cause major disruption. 

Over the weekend, extensive efforts were made by gardaí to disperse protesters and their vehicles at fuel terminals at Foynes in Co Limerick and Galway harbour, which had been blockaded since early last week.

The blockades caused fuel to run dry in some 900 forecourts across the country at the peak yesterday morning, but access has since been regained to these key fuel terminals and it is expected supply will return to normal levels nationally within the next ten days.

Derogations on driving hours for drivers transporting fuel and home heating oil was signed off by Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien on Saturday to attempt to ramp up supply of fuel after blockades obstructed the usual deliveries.

Transport

Dublin Bus has said that full services resumed at 4am this morning after a week of disruptions.

A spokesperson for the company advised this morning that travellers check for live service updates at www.dublinbus.ie and across its social media channels.

“We would like to thank all customers for their patience and understanding during this period of disruption,” the spokesperson said.

With reporting by Eoghan Dalton