Limerick braced as new weather warning comes into effect

LIMERICK City and County Council advises that Met Éireann has issued a fresh Status Orange - Low Temperature/Ice warning for the county.

Coming into effect at 6pm this Wednesdayand valid until 11am tomorrow, Thursday, January 8, the public can expect extremely cold conditions with widespread severe frost, ice, and lying snow.

With this comes dangerous travelling conditions on roads with black ice and underfoot, travel disruptions and delays and animal welfare issues.

Temperatures are once again forecast to drop as low as -8°C in parts of Limerick in the early hours of Thursday morning. Freezing conditions will persist in some areas until the end of this week.

READ ALSO: 'But for the Limerick farming community, there'd be people dead. All people want is a bloody update'

Limerick City and County Council continues to treat roads according to the Winter Road Maintenance Plan with a focus on strategic and priority routes.

The Council has also been focussed on ensuring access for repair crews to areas of County Limerick impacted by disruption to power or water supplies.

Attention is now also being given to local primary, secondary and tertiary routes where snow continues to lie.

Footpaths are being treated where resources allow, with priority given to schools, medical facilities, civic offices and transport hubs. Treatment is not a guarantee of safety, and caution is advised.

Additonally, the Limerick Homeless Action Team are in regular communication with service providers to ensure there is as much additional accommodation as possible available during this cold spell.

A total of 42 people were accommodated in additional capacity on Tuesday night, January 7.

They have confirmed that there is sufficient accommodation to meet demand. No one will be turned away.

They can be contacted at Homeless@limerick.ie or call 061 557051 or 1800 606060 (out of hours).

People may also present at the Temporary Emergency Provision (TEP) at Edenvilla, Lord Edward Street at 9pm. This out of hours service is operated by NOVAS in collaboration with the Limerick Homeless Action Team.

In terms of closures due to the adverse weather conditions, Limerick City and County Council’s Offices at Adare-Rathkeale, Cappamore-Killmallock and Newcastlewest remained closed this Wednesday, January 8.

Services are available by phone or online. This will remain under review in the coming days. The Mungret Civic Amenity site will remain closed on Thursday, January 9.

The Dooradoyle Motor Tax Office will operate reduced opening hours on Thursday, January 9 from 11am to 2:30pm.

The easiest and most convenient way to pay Motor Tax and access information about motor tax is online at motortax.ie.