Council to splash €100,000 on PPE - from head torches to flasks, gloves and boots

Donegal County Council is gearing up for some serious shopping - but it’s not your usual trip to the hardware shop.

The local authority plans to spend up to €100,000 on personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep its staff safe, warm and well-caffeinated, according to tender documents just released.

On the shopping list are flasks, boots, gloves and head torches.

The council, bound by EU tender rules, is seeking a single supplier for at least a year, with an option to extend - because you never know when you might need a steady supply of waterproof gloves or industrial-strength thermoses.

Top of the list are flasks capable of keeping tea hot (or water cold) for 24 hours. Two sizes are specified: one to hold a respectable 1-1.5 litres, and a bigger version to carry up to 2 litres, enough to keep any worker hydrated - or caffeinated - on the go. The flasks must be rust-proof, food-grade stainless steel, with insulated lids that double as cups. A quick browse online finds a 2-litre Thermos for around €40.

Next up: LED head torches with adjustable straps and 200 lumens of brightness - handy whether you’re clearing a shough, filling a pothole or putting up ‘Road Closed Ahead’ or ‘Diversion’ signs in the dark.

A USB-rechargeable version is easily found online for under €15.

In the gloves department, the council isn’t leaving anyone out - sizes range from XXS to 3XL, and waterproof thermal protection is the order of the day. Options online include insulated work gloves for under €9 a pair - or a bit more for touchscreen-compatible versions, the better to make those urgent calls in the rain.

Safety boots, however, are where things start to get pricey. The council wants lace-up leather safety boots with all the bells and whistles - steel toe caps, heat-resistant soles, water-repellent uppers and ISO certification. Depending on the size, a pair could set you back between €175 and €265 online. Thankfully, the cheaper slip-on ankle boots come in at a more wallet-friendly €40 a pair.

Suppliers vying for the contract must submit prices (excluding VAT), along with any bulk discounts they’re willing to offer and deliver the goods to the machinery yard at Lifford. €100,000 worth of boots, gloves and flasks will likely fill a few shelves.

At least when the next cold snap or storm hits Donegal, council staff will be fully prepared - warm drinks in hand, boots dry, gloves snug and head torches firmly in place.