Winter Bites Across Ireland

As temperatures across Ireland plummeted overnight to new levels of chill, travellers continued to suffer disruption today as what has been described as the worst winter in a century continues to bite.

A Government emergency response committee is to meet this morning to discuss the ongoing problems caused by the cold snap.

The committee is made up of representatives from the departments of transport, environment, health education, the Taoiseach and other agencies.

They will decide if the army needs to be mobilised to help people cut off and isolated because of weather. Defence Minister Willie O'Dea said he was keen to mobilise the army if necessary.

Snow and ice are making driving conditions dangerous in many areas, particularly in the east where salt supplies are running low.

Met Éireann has issued a severe weather warning with snow expected in west Ulster and western parts of Connacht and Munster.

Knock Airport has suspended flights for today because of the adverse overnight weather conditions.

Sligo regional airport was closed this morning but management said they should be operational again by about 1pm.

Dublin Bus says is operating services this morning on main corridors and main roads. Some routes have been suspended in parts of west Dublin and Leixlip in north Kildare.

The disruption to bus services is likely to increase demand on the DART and Luas lines.

Dublin Airport re-opened shortly after 8pm last night having suspended flights for over four hours, which disrupted the travel plans of up to 10,000 passengers.

The runway at City of Derry Airport was again closed because of snow and two morning flights - to and from Dublin - have been cancelled.

The airport advised other passengers to check in as normal and to allow extra time for their journey due to the road conditions.

At George Best Belfast City Airport, an early arrival from Manchester has been indefinitely delayed and at Belfast International Airport, the Easyjet flight from Liverpool has been delayed until near noon.

As road conditions remained difficult across NI, a number of schools are closed today due to ongoing problems with bad weather affecting transportation and heating.

But even snow clouds have a silver lining as a mine near Carrickfergus is producing 4,000 tonnes a day to keep NI roads moving during the prolonged cold spell.

The Irish Salt Mining and Exploration Company Ltd, based at Fort Road, Kilroot, is currently working extended shifts seven days a week to keep up with demand across Northern Ireland and international markets.

A Roads Service spokeswoman told the Belfast News Letter that the Carrickfergus mine was its sole supplier of road salt and "an invaluable asset" that it makes it easier to cope with surges in demand due to extreme weather events.

The Irish Republic is having to import white salt from as far away as Spain for its roads to cope with weather conditions there.

Dublin City Council chief engineer Michael Phillips told RTÉ their stocks of salt for gritting are down to one day's supply.

(BMcC/GK)