County Mayor: Get ‘Winter Ready’ as we all prepare for the festive season

LIFE is busy in the council in recent weeks and Christmas preparations are well under way around the county.

This week I would like to highlight that the Cork and Kerry Inter-Agency Major Emergency Management Region South is asking everyone to be ‘winter ready’ this year. Be Winter Ready is a co-ordinated campaign involving statutory agencies that aims to raise public awareness about the challenges that winter can present and encourages members of the public to prepare in advance of the usual seasonal issues.

I would also like to highlight an important message from An Garda Síochána as they continue to stress the importance of road safety during winter weather conditions. I would ask you to please ensure your tyres are roadworthy and make sure all indicators and headlamps are clean and working.

Further information can be found at www.rsa.ie.

Did you know that the council also provides information on salting routes which are treated in the event of severe weather around the county? These routes can be found by visiting Cork County Council website at www.corkcoco.ie.

The council also provide updates on conditions during Met Éireann weather alerts, and you can keep up to date on our social media channels, such as Facebook and X.

I am happy to report that the council has recently taken delivery of six state-of-the-art salt spreaders. Each valued at over €220,000, the new machines are set to bolster the council’s road maintenance during adverse weather conditions.

These new vehicles represent a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of road users during the winter months.

The vehicles will operate from key locations across the county, ensuring we are equipped to respond to changing weather conditions and proactively address potential hazards on our roads.

On another note, I am reminding you that the Draft Climate Action Plan is open for public consultation. This important plan sets out how Cork County Council will work with its communities to advocate for change and with national government and State agencies to deliver climate action.

The council will also look at its own services to meet national emissions targets and to increase the resilience of its human and infrastructural assets against climate-change impacts.

I attended the contract signing for the new M28 motorway linking Rochestown with Ringaskiddy which has moved another step closer. Funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the €16m contract will see Jacobs Engineering Ireland oversee the implementation. The M28 motorway is scheduled to be completed by 2030 and will be a key part of the road infrastructure in Cork, improving connectivity with key urban areas such as Carrigaline, while providing vital access to the Port of Cork facilities in Ringaskiddy.

I was delighted to be invited to address Teen Talk, a yearly initiative held by Cork County Council, which so far has reached 12,000 transition year students over six years. Developing resilience, growing awareness, and the importance of positive mental health was this year’s theme. I would like to thank Healthy Ireland and the Local Community Development Committees for their support as we continue to deliver these important messages.

I have no doubt the attendees enjoyed listening to former Munster Rugby captain Billy Holland and the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic, Karen Weekes, talk about their personal experiences.

Finally, we had The Late Late Toy Show last Friday night, and now with Christmas fully launched, I am calling on the people of Cork to soak up the festive atmosphere in towns and villages across the county with several pop-up Christmas markets and special events planned over the coming weeks designed to support local businesses, jobs, and communities.

I would encourage everyone to explore our towns and villages, and to please support the incredible retailers and businesses that you will find on every main street. When you buy local, you are reinvesting in your local community and the families behind each business.

Wrap up well for the cold spell and enjoy the magic of twinkling lights in your local communities, villages, and towns. Remember, it’s the most magical time of the year.