Northern Ireland Roads Minister Conor Murphy has today inspected operations at the salt mines at Kilroot, Carrickfergus.

The Co. Antrim Salt Mines, which are owned by Irish Salt Mining and Exploration Ltd, produce the rock salt used by Roads Service to salt the road network during its annual winter service programme.

During his visit, the Minister toured the mines and met with employees.

He said: "I want to take the opportunity today to thank all of the employees for their hard work in producing rock salt for the Roads Service winter service programme. The timely supply of this salt is vital, especially during times such as the recent severe cold spell, during which Roads Service worked tirelessly night and day to ensure that the main roads network, which carries 80% of traffic, remained open.

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"Between the start of October and end of April each year, Roads Service uses approximately 50,000 tonnes of salt during the winter service programme. However this year, Roads Service has already spread 70,000 tonnes of salt and will probably see many more nights salting before the winter is over. Roads Service continues to replenish stocks of salt to ensure there is adequate supplies for the remainder of this winter."

(NS/GK