TD for Wexford, Minister Paul Kehoe has welcomed the launch of the Government’s ‘Be Winter-Ready’ 2015-2016 Information Campaign. Through a dedicated website www.winterready.ie, advice is being made available from a number of sources including Government Departments and Agencies, An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive, the Office of Public Works, Local Authorities and the transport providers.
Welcoming the initiative, Minister Kehoe stated; “The winter months have the potential to throw up challenges in many forms. There is a lot that we can do to prepare for these challenges, should they arise.”
“This initiative will provide practical advice for many situations in different walks of life, a lot of which is common sense but maybe things we might not automatically think to do. 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 redesigned “Be Winter Ready” booklet, which can be downloaded from the website.
The main objectives of the ‘Be Winter-Ready’ information 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, and
- 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.
All Government Departments and Agencies will be promoting the “Be Winter Ready” information campaign through their own websites and over social media and to regularly update their own preparations and information campaigns as a “Whole of Government” approach to winter preparations.
In addition, the Office of Emergency Planning will be regularly 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.
Minister Kehoe stressed that the main message that the government wishes to convey is –
“To be prepared, stay safe and know where to find help if you need it.”
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