THE INCLEMENT weather conditions have dealt a further blow to struggling retailers and led to the cancellation of a host of sports and community events, as well as the closure of more schools.
Dublin city centre was quieter than usual yesterday morning and the Dublin City Business Association said the number of shoppers was down but it was difficult to put a figure on it.
The association’s chairman, Tom Coffey, said there was evidence that more shoppers had switched to public transport as buses were busier than normal. Shops selling items such as coats, umbrellas and boots were doing a brisk trade and outdoor shops reported difficulty in keeping stocks of shoe covers – the non-slip covers for shoes or boots.
Mr Coffey said the bad weather had also boosted the sale of hot food in restaurants and cafes.
“We have a couple hundred thousand people working in the city centre and they all still have to be fed,” he said.
He also urged businesses to clean the area in front of their buildings so that people could move about safely.
Young farmers’ organisation Macra na Feirme called on the Government to provide grit dumps, which would allow local communities to treat their own driveways and footpaths.
And the Irish Farmers’ Association has criticised some local authorities for refusing to supply grit to farmers who were willing to help clear minor roads.
IFA president John Bryan said farmers in west Cork and other areas were willing to use their machinery if grit was supplied by the county council but the authorities refused to provide the supplies. He said there was “no credible reason” for this refusal and he urged the local authorities to rethink their policy and avail of the help offered by farmers.
Irish Rural Link has called for those living in rural areas to make an extra effort to visit people living alone during the cold weather.
Its chief executive Séamus Boland said it was very difficult for older people to get out and about and he encouraged people to ensure that older neighbours have adequate fuel and food supplies.
Eircom said the severe weather conditions continued to affect broadband and telephone customers across the country, but particularly along the east coast.
The worst-hit counties yesterday were Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow and Dublin. It had logged 4,600 faults yesterday afternoon, 1,000 of which were in the greater Dublin area. Lightning damage to internal wiring, master sockets and modems was the most commonly reported problem.
The telecoms company asked customers to log faults on the “Log a Fault” section of its website (eircom.ie) or through its automated customer service line 1901.
Among the events postponed due to the cold spell were Trinity College Dublin’s open day for secondary students, which was due to take place today. The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society’s national marts conference was also due to be held today in Portlaoise but it has been postponed until the new year. The National Rural Development Conference was due to be held in Tullamore tomorrow but has been called off and will be rescheduled for January. Tomorrow’s race meeting at Fairyhouse has been moved to December 8th.
