Council 'do not have resources' to supply Clare schools with salt bins this winter

CLARE County Council have stated they cannot supply salt and grit bins to schools in the county as they "do not have the resources".

The statement was in reply to a motion brought by Shannon-based councillor PJ Ryan at the December council meeting on Monday.

In his motion, Cllr Ryan asked that the council consider providing salt and grit bins for "all national schools that require them and are not on the gritting network in the county".

A similar motion had been put forward at a Shannon Municipal District meeting earlier this year, by Cllr John Crowe of Fine Gael.

In response to Cllr Ryan's motion, CCC senior engineer John Leahy said that "the provision of bins and salt to schools and at key locations within communities was considered as part of the Winter Maintenance Service Plan Review carried out in October 2023".

"However Clare County Council does not have the resources to supply and maintain salt bins to schools in the county," he said.

According to Mr Leahy, the Department of Education is the parent department for all schools and as such it would be their responsibility to provide schools across Clare with funding and resources to "manage their response to the winter maintenance of school grounds".