The IFA has welcomed the announcement that there is no legal impediment to local authorities distributing grit to farmers and community groups to clear roads which are not being treated by council gritters.
IFA president John Bryan said local authorities which had not been making grit available should now do so.
For the past few days, farmers and community groups have said they are willing themselves to spread grit on roads that are not being cleared by local authorities.
At lunchtime, Mr Bryan again complained that Cork County Council was not supplying grit while other councils were and he called for a more co-ordinated and proactive approach.
Cork County Council had maintained that, under health and safety legislation, it was prevented from distributing grit to farming groups.
This afternoon, the Government's inter-agency group, which is co-ordinating the response to the current severe weather, clarified the matter.
The IFA then urged local authorities, which had been refusing to make grit available, to reconsider their policy.
Cork County Council has this evening reversed its decision not to supply grit to farmers and community groups who want to treat rural roads which are not being serviced by the Council's fleet of gritting trucks.
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association said Kilkenny County Council is actually delivering grit to local groups.
