Staff Update

19:00 Sunday 4th March 

Weather conditions have eased across the country over the weekend and Tusla will resume normal services across the country tomorrow morning to the best of our ability. We are aware that in some parts of the country conditions remain `challenging. If you feel it would not be safe to travel to work tomorrow, please speak to your line manager about making alternative arrangements.

As services reopen, managers should assess the safety and functionality of premises as a first priority. Staff are advised to be vigilant of hazards in the aftermath of the adverse weather. In all instances staff should report to their line manager any unsafe conditions they are aware of. All incidents including incidents relating to property damage due to the storm should be reported using the National Incident Report Form (NIRF) and logged on the National Incident Management System.

Please share this message with colleagues and team members who may not have access to emails today.

11:45 Friday 2nd March 

As you are no doubt aware, much of the country is under snow this morning. Munster, Leinster and Galway are subject to a red snow-ice warning until 6pm while  Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo are subject to an orange snow-ice warning for the same period.

Although the warning level has eased in parts of the country, we are aware that the situation remains treacherous in many areas and that the guidance from the National Emergency Coordination Group is not to undertake unecessary travel. Therefore, Regional Service Directors, Area Managers and Service Managers will decide on a local basis whether it is safe for offices and facilities to re-open today and will advise staff as appropriate.

At this point, we are hopeful that most services and facilities will be in a position to reopen from Monday. However, we will keep this under review over the weekend and decisions will ultimately be made at local and regional levels based on local weather conditions.

As services reopen, managers should assess the safety and functionality of premises as a first priority. Staff are advised to be vigilant of hazards in the aftermath of the adverse weather. In all instances staff should report to their line manager any unsafe conditions they are aware of. All incidents including incidents relating to property damage due to the storm should be reported using the National Incident Report Form (NIRF) and logged on the National Incident Management System.

Please share this message with colleagues and team members.

11:15 Thursday 1st March 

The National Corporate Induction Workshop planned for Monday 5th March has been postponed.  Staff booked on this workshop can avail of the next available workshop by contacting Carol Dermody on (01) 8976827.

23:30 Wednesday 28th February

Met Eireann has announced that all counties are now subject to a red weather warning until Friday afternoon. Local arrangements for on-call service delivery should be followed. Staff should stay home and where possible work from home. Please speak to your line manager if you have any questions.

15:30 Wednesday 28th February

The weather has deteriorated severely overnight in many parts of the country.

Current weather forecast

Met Éireann has issued a status red snow-ice warning for Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow from 5am today until 12pm tomorrow.

Munster and Leinster are subject to a status red snow-ice warning from 4pm tomorrow until 12pm on Friday. During this time, people in these areas have been advised to stay indoors.

Met Éireann has also issued a status orange snow-ice warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Wexford, Offaly, Westmeath, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford from 6am today until 12pm tomorrow and a status yellow snow-ice warning for Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Clare and Limerick from 8am today until 12pm tomorrow.

Guidelines for staff

 Status red areas

In areas of the country affected by red weather warnings Tusla cannot provide its full services. Staff are advised to stay home and where possible work from home. Local arrangements have been made for service provision on an on-call basis. Please speak to your line manager about these.

 Status orange areas

In areas of the country affected by orange weather warnings Tusla can provide services, however, local area and service managers have authority to close or reduce services as judged appropriate in the weather conditions.

 Status yellow areas

In areas of the country affected by yellow weather warnings Tusla can provide full services as normal.

Advice for status orange and yellow areas

Staff in areas affected by orange and yellow weather warnings should heed the advice circulated in yesterday’s Newscast, namely:

1. In the event of adverse weather, do not make unnecessary journeys. Please consult your line manager about these decisions.
2. If necessary take precautions getting home this evening, particularly if you work or live in an area where snow and ice are forecast.
3. Reschedule any non-essential meetings, interviews, training sessions, etc. which are scheduled for the remainder of this week as Thursday and Friday in particular are due to be the worst affected days.
4. Areas and services are planning safe arrangements to deliver frontline services to the best of our ability in the event of adverse weather. Your line manager will keep you updated on any necessary local and team arrangements.
5. If you line manage staff make sure you have their mobile numbers.
6. Regularly check the Met Éireann website www.met.ie and/or news bulletins for updated forecasts.
7. Visit the Irish Government’s website www.winterready.ie for further information on safety at home, at work and on the roads.
8. Share this email with any colleagues who don’t receive Newscasts or don’t have regular access to their work emails.
9. If there is an emergency, the emergency response numbers are 112 and 999.

Further communications

We will continue to monitor the situation and will issue further updates as the situation and forecast develop. Please keep an eye on your inbox as we will send daily Newscasts throughout the week. Live updates will also be published on the Tusla website and shared through Facebook and Twitter.

Finally, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your cooperation and commitment in ensuring essential services are provided to the best of our ability. We hope you and your families stay safe in the days ahead.

07:45 Wednesday 28th February 

In light of the red weather warning issued this morning by Met Éireann, staff in affected counties (Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow) should not come to work today. Local areas will have plans in place to deliver frontline services. Please discuss with your line manager.

Staff in counties not affected by the red weather warning should come to work as normal if safe to do so.  Please refer to yesterdays newscast and liaise with your line manager as required.

Please share this message with colleagues. Further updates to follow.

14:00 Tuesday 27th February

As you are no doubt aware, Met Éireann has advised that severe weather conditions are due to affect Ireland this week. Members of the Senior Management Team met today to discuss this and plan a response that will to the best of our ability maintain our services and keep staff safe.

Current weather forecast

Met Éireann has issued a status orange snow-ice warning for Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Louth, Meath and Wicklow from 3pm today until 11am tomorrow. An orange weather warning is for weather conditions which have the capacity to impact significantly on people in the affected areas. The issuing of an orange level weather warning implies that all recipients in the affected areas should prepare themselves in an appropriate way for the anticipated conditions.

Met Éireann has also issued a status yellow snow-ice warning for Kilkenny, Longford, Wexford, Offaly, Westmeath, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford and a national yellow weather warning for exceptionally cold weather this week.

Guidelines for staff

At this point in time, we are issuing the following guidelines to all staff as a safety precaution:

1. In the event of adverse weather, do not make unnecessary journeys. Please consult your line manager about these decisions.
2. If necessary take precautions getting home this evening, particularly if you work or live in an area where snow and ice are forecast.
3. Reschedule any non-essential meetings, interviews, training sessions, etc. which are scheduled for the remainder of this week as Thursday and Friday in particular are due to be the worst affected days.
4. Areas and services are planning safe arrangements to deliver frontline services to the best of our ability in the event of adverse weather. Your line manager will keep you updated on any necessary local and team arrangements.
5. If you line manage staff make sure you have their mobile numbers.
6. If new staff joined your team recently, make sure they receive Tusla Newscasts. Anyone who doesn’t receive Tusla Newscasts can email Derek Mulcahy (derek.mulcahy@tusla.ie) to be added to the distribution list.
7. Regularly check the Met Éireann website www.met.ie and/or news bulletins for updated forecasts.
8. Visit the Irish Government’s website www.winterready.ie for further information on safety at home, at work and on the roads.
9. Share this email with any colleagues who don’t receive Newscasts or don’t have regular access to their work emails.
10. If there is an emergency, the emergency response numbers are 112 and 999.

Further communications

We will continue to monitor the situation and will issue further guidelines as the situation and forecast develop. Please keep an eye on your inbox as we will send daily Newscasts throughout the week. Live updates will also be included on the Tusla website and shared through Facebook and Twitter.

If you have any further questions, please speak to your line manager.