Thermometers given to elderly to avoid hypothermia

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan, has announced the distribution of tens of thousands of thermometer cards throughout her home county of Donegal.

The cards are designed to be used by elderly people in order to check the temperature in their homes and hopefully avoid succumbing to hypothermia.

If the pilot scheme in Donegal is deemed to be successful, the cards will be distributed throughout the rest of the country next winter.