Press release
Launch of Be Winter Ready 2024-2025
From Department of Defence; Office of Public Works
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Defence; Office of Public Works
Published on
Last updated on
The government’s ‘Be Winter-Ready’ 2024-2025 Information Campaign launched today with the message: “Be Prepared This Winter”.
Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics, James Lawless, was joined at the launch by Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Kieran O’Donnell, and Eoin Sherlock, Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann.
This year’s campaign highlights the ‘whole of government’ approach taken to plan and prepare for the challenges of winter. Core to this campaign is the message to be prepared, stay safe and know where to find help if needed.
The Be Winter Ready website provides helpful information for resilience this winter for people, their families and communities.
Speaking at the launch Minister James Lawless said:
"The launch of this campaign provides a timely opportunity for individuals, households and communities to take stock of the risks that winter can sometimes inflict. It also marks the start of what can be a very demanding period for many people, as a result of the many challenges that the winter months and severe weather conditions can present us from both an individual level and as a society.
"This year’s Be Winter Ready campaign covers issues such as, road and farm safety, flooding, weather warnings mental health awareness - key issues to bear in mind as we prepare for the winter months ahead.
"I would encourage everyone to take some time to visit the dedicated website winterready.ie , to review the various safety advice provided and ensure that they and their households can be prepared, stay safe, and know where to find help if needed when we experience weather extremes during the winter months ahead."
Minister Lawless also took the opportunity to confirm that Irish transport operators have detailed contingency plans in place to deal with the impacts of adverse weather conditions this winter. He also reminded all those who use our roads – whether as motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians – that there are steps that can be taken to plan and prepare for your journey and be aware throughout your journey to protect themselves and others on the roads over the winter months.
Minister Kieran O’Donnell added:
"Flooding can have a significant impact on individuals and communities, disrupting essential services and causing damage to property and possessions. In the event of a flood, the local authorities and emergency services will provide the principal response at a local level and people should always follow their instructions.
"Individuals and communities can also play an important role in reducing the impact of flooding by being aware of flood risks and by taking the time to make the appropriate preparations in advance. This year, the government is launching a 'whole of government' information campaign to assist households in preparing for winter and potential flooding. The campaign aims to provide useful guidance for individuals to help protect themselves, their homes, and their livelihoods in the event of a flood, with safety being the key priority. I would encourage everyone to visit the winterready.ie website and engage with the updated “Be Winter Ready” booklet.”
The main objectives of the ‘Be Winter-Ready’ information campaign are to:
Through a dedicated website, advice is being made available from a wide 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.
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 an updated “Be Winter Ready” booklet published on this website.
All government departments and agencies have been requested to promote 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 such winter preparations.
In addition, the Office of Emergency Planning will be regularly tweeting during the winter period to augment the ‘Be Winter Ready’ campaign in tandem with other media campaigns on YouTube and in the national press. The X (Twitter) account can be followed on @emergencyIE and the public are being encouraged to join in the conversation using the hashtag #bewinterready.