27,000 social welfare payments delayed
As temperatures continued to plummet the Department of Social and Family Affairs confirmed that almost 27,000 people have yet to receive this week’s payment.
Those waiting on the money are expected to receive cheques today after An Post was unable to deliver them from the department’s Dublin commuter centre offices on Wednesday and Thursday morning.
Efforts were made yesterday to overcome the adverse conditions. However, the delays meant those entitled to illness benefit, rent supplement, disability allowance, jobseekers income, the mortgage interest supplement and one-parent family payments were left to wait for the funding.
The situation emerged after calls were made for a special payment to be made to elderly people who are suffering from the sub-zero conditions.
Among the key issues raised by opposition parties calling for the emergency payment were that pensioners and older people need the extra income to help pay for fuel, heating and food as temperatures across the country continue to fall.
Meanwhile, weather experts have claimed the cold snap which has caused havoc across the country could last until early March.
Positive Weather Solutions spokesman Jonathan Powell said the freezing temperatures and flurries of snow storms are almost certain to continue until “the latter part of February or early part of March”.
While the expert said the Arctic weather will be interspersed with the “occasional day or two” of milder conditions, he added that sub-zero temperatures are likely to continue.
“This would be the case for both Ireland and the UK, and most of northern Europe, in fact,” Mr Powell insisted.
With the treacherous conditions continuing to hit the country, all Dublin Bus services yesterday ceased from 8pm.
Customers are advised to check www.dublinbus.ie or call the customer service line on 01-8734222 from 7am to 7pm for further details today.
The west and north-west of Ireland suffered worsening weather conditions yesterday as the Arctic conditions swept across the country.
Dublin, the midlands and Munster are all expected to be hit by further freezing weather this weekend.
