Check against delivery
My name is Sean Hogan. I work in Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, which is the Lead Government Department for the response to severe weather.
I chair the NECG which brings together all the state organisations involved in preparing for and responding to the current severe cold weather. We met here this morning and Ministers Eoghan Murphy T.D. , Paul Kehoe T. D. Damien English T.D. were in attendance.
As you know, Met Eireann had an Orange level warning for 4 – 6 cm of snow in place for east region counties and a yellow level for midland and southern counties.
• SNOW MUCH HEAVIER THAN ANTICIPATED IN MANYAREAS
• MET EIREANN ISSUED RED LEVEL WARNING AT 5 AM IN LIGHT OF SNOW ALREADY ACCUMULATED AND WITH MORE EXPECTED TODAY FOR Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Wicklow and Meath
• CONDITIONS ON ROADS VERY DIFFICULT DURING SNOW LAST NIGHT
• SALTING ON ROADS HAS ENABLED TRAFFIC FLOW, ALBEIT SLOWLY AND WE REITERATE ADVICE ABOUT DRIVING IN SNOW CONDITIONS
• PLOUGHING AND SALTING WILL CONTINUE DURING THE DAY
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT HAS BEEN AFFECTED TO VARYING DEGREES IN DIFFERENT AREAS BUT IS RUNNING today
• AIRPORT AFFECTED BY VERY HEAVY SNOW AND FLIGHTS DIVERTED
• SCHOOLS MADE LOCAL DECISIONS ABOUT OPENING OR NOT DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS
o SCHOOL TRANSPORT SERVICES NOT OPERATING IN RED WARNING AREAS
o REPORTS THAT MANY SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED
• EMPLOYERS DECIDING BASED ON CONDITIONS AND STAFF SITUATION
• AS WELL AS CLEARING PATHS IN THEIR OWN PROPERTY WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO CLEAR SNOW FROM IN FRONT OF PREMISES BEFORE IT GETS TOO COMPACTED AND FREEZES
Our other main concern here at national level remains the forecast for Thursday night and Friday. Storm Emma coming up from the south will meet the polar air from the east and will give rise to heavy snowfalls, starting in the south of the country at approx. 16.00 hr on Thurs evening and spreading up across Munster and Leinster . With winds up to 100 km/hr allied with the snowfall, Met Eireann have issued a RED LEVEL WARNING for Munster and Leinster extending from 16.00 hrs Thurs to 12.00 noon on Friday.
We have not experienced blizzard conditions since 1982, and the reports from that time indicate the serious and life threatening conditions which may be posed by the combination of heavy snow and strong winds.
Having considered the Met Eireann warning, and the likely impacts of blizzard conditions, and FOR REASONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN BLIZZARD LIKE CONDITIONS THE NECG IS ADVISING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT VENTURE OUT OF DOORS WHILE THE RED LEVEL WARNING IS IN PLACE IN YOUR AREA.
Given the disruption to transport, and the safety risks arising, most particularly in relation to the ability to get home safely before blizzard like conditions hit Munster and Leinster, all schools, colleges and third level institutions in red areas will be closed tomorrow. They will remain closed on Friday because of the Blizzard like conditions in those red areas. In relation to Connacht and Ulster decisions on school closures will be made at school level in light of local circumstances. The situation in Connacht and Ulster will be kept under constant review.
Public transport will be seriously disruptedtomorrow. Specifically Dublin Bus will not operate and Bus Eireann and rural link will not operate in Munster plus Leinster. Most private operators are advising they will not be operating.
Irish Rail will run services tomorrow morning but will engage in an orderly close down for the entire country between 12 noon and 2pm. Luas will run limited services up until lunch time.
The situation at affected Airports will be kept under review and people should check with carriers.
The key point is that in light of that, If people have to travel, people need to consider how they will get home safely by 4 o clock in Munster and Leinster.
For tomorrow, employers need to consider whether, given the constraints on public transport and the current and anticipated snow conditions if it is possible or necessary for them to open tomorrow. Employers will have been thinking about these arrangements.
Government Depts and offices and agencies not involved in provision of essential services will close on Thursday and Friday in Leinster and Munster.
The Departments and agencies involved in provision of essential services have their own protocols in place and will advise their own staff accordingly
These are the warnings and best advice at 36 hours out, and people should be conscious of the actual conditions. As with Storm Ophelia, we ask people to heed our NECG advice.
We urge all individuals and organisations to consider our advice and, taking account of timing issues, to plan for giving effect to the RED Level warning.
I will now ask my colleague Evelyn to give you details of the forecast and to explain the RED Level warning.
The public are advised to monitor Met Éireannacross all media platforms for further updates and to familiarise themselves with the Winter Ready campaign and associated support materials. See GOV.ie for all information and links.