Keeping an eye on those in need warmly appreciated

ACCORDING to poet Ogden Nash, a family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the “common cold”. It is the uncommon cold that families young and old, are struggling to deal with. That is why the announcement by Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty that an extra €22.50 in Fuel Allowance is to be paid will be warmly appreciated.

The Government is to grant the amount to all Fuel Allowance recipients in light of the cold weather.

Ms Doherty confirmed the payment will be given to 331,000 people. With plummeting temperatures, blizzards and 110kmh winds to be contended with, clouds of confusion hardly needed to be added to mix.

The issuing of a red weather alert must be taken for what it is. Lives will be threatened by the freak conditions. Warnings to keep indoors undoubtedly made a difference six months ago when the last extreme weather event struck with Ophelia.

The Government’s emergency planning group has been doing an excellent job in keeping people informed.

The message is simple: do not take risks by going out from late this afternoon.

It is also important to keep elderly people and the ill in our thoughts. If in any doubt, it is worth checking on people living alone.

At times such as these, good fences do not necessarily make good neighbours.