A nationwide rollout of community grit boxes would be an “obvious, simple solution” to help keep roads and footpaths gritted during cold snaps this winter. 

Green Party Councillor Pamela Conroy grew up in County Antrim where it was the “norm” for the local council to provide local communities with grit boxes. 

She currently represents Castleknock on Fingal County Council and suggested it was an idea that should be considered locally. 

“I’m not sure why it’s not being brought in everywhere,” she told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“I know that Fingal, when I initially asked them to do this, they said that they were going to do a feasibility study to look at rolling out a pilot scheme. 

“I looked for an update last week and they came back and said after doing some research and talking to other counties like Meath, Monaghan, Cavan and Kildare where this scheme is in place, they’ve decided to bring out a [council]-wide scheme. 

“To me, it seems like an obvious, simple solution for gritting local residents’ estates and footpaths during cold snaps.” 

Although Fingal County Council has embraced the scheme, neighbouring Dublin City Council has not - something that Cllr Conroy says she 'does not understand'. 

Additional crews have moved into designated areas across the county to grit and clear pedestrian areas in towns and villages. This is the work being done in Swords this morning. #CleanupEmma #StormEmma #YourCouncilWorkingForYou #sneachta @merrionstreet @emergencyIE @FingalEMU pic.twitter.com/k3oeiaOlSk

— Fingal County Council (@Fingalcoco) March 3, 2018

Once a grit box has been handed over to a group, the council has said it is up to the local community to make sure it is used properly. 

“Fingal has been quite clear that whenever they hand over a grit box to whoever applies for a grit box, it’s the responsibility of the local resident to put out any salt,” Cllr Conroy said. 

“They’re using groups like resident associations, churches, clubs and schools - and those generally have public liability insurance already.”

Research suggests gritting roads is not just a matter of convenience, but a public health issue; during a cold snap in England in 2010,  one local hospital reported the number of people admitted to their emergency ward due to falls had doubled.

Main image: A grit box. Picture by: Alamy.com