RURAL ACTION PLAN:A RURAL response strategy to cope with freezing weather conditions is being developed by the country's largest farming organisation.
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) said yesterday the strategy was being developed because the conditions being experienced now are not one-off events and will happen again.
The plan is being drawn up by the organisation’s environment and rural affairs committee for presentation to Government, local authorities and the inter-agency Group on Severe Weather.
Chairman of the committee Pat Farrell said the severe weather being experienced now was a repeat of the weather experienced earlier in the year, and there was no reason to think of the storm as a once-off event.
“Farmers have the equipment and machinery to keep rural Ireland moving during severe weather conditions,” Mr Farrell said.
“Government should tap into this resource by providing financial assistance for snow ploughs, making grit and salt available on request, and enlisting the services of farmers on a standby basis, where their experience in handling machinery can be used where required.”
Early last week, the IFA became involved in a row with Cork County Council which had refused to supply grit to farmers and rural groups to treat secondary roads on health and safety grounds. This issue was later resolved.
The Health and Safety Authority issued a statement saying there was no health and safety legislation preventing voluntary groups assisting with road-gritting activity.
IFA president John Bryan said farmers, local communities and Government agencies were continuing to work together to reduce the impact of the freezing weather across rural Ireland.