To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether her Department works alongside local councils to plan for winter gritting services, to ensure maximum impact for unsafe areas.

The Department provides gritting salt under existing agreements with a number of councils, for the removal of snow and ice from town centre footways and pedestrian areas. These agreements are activated during prolonged periods of severe weather.

Priority is given to the provision of salt for the treatment of the gritted road network, after which the Department makes salt available to local Councils for the treatment of town centre footways and pedestrian areas.

This agreement is for salt supplies in addition to stocks held by Councils for the treatment of council facilities.

Salt bins and grit piles are also provided for use by the public, on a self-help basis, on other routes adopted or maintained by my Department, but which do not qualify for inclusion on the gritting schedule. These will be found at locations which meet certain criteria such as gradient, topography, proximity to salted network, etc.

These grit piles and salt boxes are filled in advance of Winter and are regularly refilled by my Winter Service staff. Members of the public can also request refills via NI Direct.