“Be Winter-Ready” 2014-2015 Information Campaign Launched

On Thursday 13^th November, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Minister for Defence, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr. Paschal Donohoe, T.D., and the Ministre of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Paudie Coffey, T.D., launched the Government’s ‘Be Winter Ready’ 2014-2015 Information Campaign at the National Emergency Coordination Centre in Dublin. Also in attendance were representatives from the various Departments and Agencies tasked with emergency response.

The launch coincided with a meeting of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, Chaired by Minister Coveney, which dealt with winter-preparedness issues.

Through a dedicated website www.winterready.ie advice is being made available from a number of sources including Government Departments, An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive, Local Authorities and the transport providers. The advice has been categorised under various headings including: the Home, Road Safety, Schools, the Farming Community and the Business Sector. A synopsis of the information available has been compiled into a booklet which can be downloaded from the website.

The main objectives of the ‘Be Winter-Ready’ campaign are:

• To provide practical advice on how best to prepare for the coming winter.
• To ensure the public are aware of where advice and help can be found, if needed.
• To reassure the public that preparations are being made and arrangements have been put in place to ensure that there will be a coordinated response to severe weather events.

The Office of Emergency Planning will be tweeting during the winter period to augment the ‘Be Winter Ready’ campaign. The twitter account can be followed on @emergencyIE and the public are being encouraged to join in the conversation at #bewinterready.