National Emergency Coordination Group meets on traffic and transport disruption

The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) met again today (Sunday, 12 April) as disruption continues to the transport network, fuel distribution and vital services. The NECG brings together all relevant Government Departments and state agencies to coordinate the response to emergencies.

The NECG is coordinating on an ongoing basis to mitigate disruption and to ensure the continuity of essential services, including emergency response services and public transport.

While a number of blockades have now been dispersed, disruption to port operations, fuel distribution and supply chains remain, along with continuing disruption to the road and public transport networks.

It will take several days for fuel distribution to return to normal.

A Government/Industry Group on Fuel Distribution has been established, and met this afternoon, to ensure an efficient and coordinated approach to restoring distribution capacity across the national network.

There also remains a risk to key supply chains. Engagement is ongoing to support continuity of supply with the most immediate priority to address key pinch‑points in the movement of goods, including fuel access for freight, warehousing and retail operators, access to distribution and processing sites and congestion at some ports and transport routes. The focus is on relieving disruptions to freight flows and deliveries to trade and retail, with particular focus on manufacturing and food processing sectors that rely on continuous operations. In dairy processing, fuel and logistics challenges are affecting collection and processing schedules, while across the economy some businesses are highlighting the risks of operational downtime as inputs and outputs are delayed.

At present, concern remains that workers, including essential workers, may not have sufficient access to fuel to drive to and from their places of work, which jeopardises the provision of critical services, health services, as well as business operations.

In order to ease local fuel supply issues and traffic congestion, the public is urged to only buy the fuel they need and to continue to consider the traffic and travel situation before making a journey. The public is also warned that storing fuel at home or in unsafe locations presents significant safety risks.

Arrangements are in place to ensure that principal response agencies such as the National Ambulance Service and the Fire Service can access fuel as required. This is being co-ordinated by those response agencies, the fuel industry and Government. In some areas there are service stations dedicated to dispensing fuel to emergency services only.

The NECG is coordinating contingency measures to address the fuel supply issues facing emergency services.

The HSE is assuring patients that all services are continuing and operational. Unless patients hear from the HSE they can assume their appointment is going ahead. People are encouraged to allow more travel time to get to appointments, and services will do their best to be flexible with appointment times but are under pressure.

The HSE is advising people who missed appointments due to the disruption to contact the relevant service that they had their appointment for, and they will be facilitated with getting another appointment quickly.

The Government is working closely with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and other stakeholders to continuously assess the effect on medicine supplies and mitigate the impact of any potential delays.

In the case of medicines used most often in Ireland, there are typically multiple forms, strengths, brands, and generic medicines available from a range of sources. In the event that there are some supply issues for individual medicines, it is expected that alternative options such as alternative strengths, brands and generic medicines will be available to ensure continuity of treatment. If a patient has any concerns about their medicine, they are encouraged to speak with their pharmacist or GP.

The requirement for blood donations continues and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is urging the public to continue supporting their local blood donation clinics by making a much-needed donation, it may save a life. If you have made an appointment to donate blood, please attend if possible. Details of clinics are available at www.giveblood.ie

The blockades have adversely affected the agriculture, food, fisheries, and forestry sectors. Milk collections and deliveries have been impacted due to the disruption to fuel supplies, which has posed an economic threat to farmers. The lack of fuel supplies has also impacted dairy processors, with some sites at risk of having to cease processing.

Supplies of fertiliser and animal feed remain a challenge and will take a number of days to replenish stock.

The blockades at ports have caused difficulty in exporting agri-food produce which in turn has put our export trade at risk. Exports of fresh fish, a time sensitive product, are especially compromised due to the blockades.

It is hoped that agri-food supply chains will gradually be able to return to operate effectively as blockades are lifted.

Due to ongoing disruptions, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has deferred the practical examinations scheduled for Monday, 13 April only for Leaving Certificate Music and Junior Cycle Home Economics.

This decision was made because, at this time, the SEC cannot be sure that all examiners and students will be able to travel to their schools. It also reflects a commitment to providing clarity and certainty for young people at an important time in their education.

The deferral applies only to practical examinations scheduled for Monday, 13 April. Not all schools were due to hold exams on this date. The SEC will put alternative arrangements in place for affected students and will contact impacted schools directly with further details.

Please note all students impacted will get the opportunity to undertake their practical examinations.

At this time, practical examinations scheduled for Tuesday will go ahead. The SEC will update schools by lunchtime on Monday should there be any change to that position.

Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth, has confirmed that school transport services are intended to resume on Monday, 13 April, after the Easter holiday period. Bus Éireann is liaising with contractors through local school transport offices to ensure that any potential disruption to school transport services is limited and localised.

Parents are advised that if blockades continue to impact on road access in some parts of the country and challenges continue with fuel distribution, there are likely to be delays and potential service disruption experienced to some services. Bus Éireann will endeavour to advise families of any disruption to services as soon as such information is made available.

Traffic and transport disruption is continuing in some areas. Access to fuel and prolonged journey times are placing a strain on all of the travelling public, as well as those who drive for work.

The Minister for Transport has approved a temporary derogation from certain driving hours and rest period requirements for drivers involved in the transport of liquid fuel used for home heating oil or as a propellant within Ireland. This will enable reasonable flexibility for drivers and businesses to keep supply chains moving while also balancing driver welfare and road safety objectives.

The public are advised to plan their journey before travelling and allow extra travel time. The National Transport Authority has a dedicated web page for information on service disruptions. The public can also check https://traffic.tii.ie/ for general traffic alerts. Those using public transport should check with their operators in case of diversions or disruptions.

The NECG will meet on an ongoing basis to continue to monitor the situation and will provide regular updates to Government.