McKay urges agencies to give priority to the elderly

Mr. McKay (left) was speaking in the wake of one of the worst ever snow storms to hit Northern Ireland in recent years. Some people have even compared it with the well-documented year of 1947 when people were cut off for days by drifting conditions which blocked roads.

The Sinn Fein representative also said that there was an added impetus on neighbours to check up on older people because the shortages could last for days in certain areas.

Mr McKay said: "It is clear from conversations I have had with NIE staff that a significant number of homes were without electricity for a number of days and that extra staff were drafted in to deal with the mammoth task of getting electricity restored to all homes.

"In sparsely populated areas there were major concerns that vulnerable groups, particularly older people were at risk and local people should always look out for their neighbours, particularly those who live on their own at times like this.

"People who are not mobile and have to use electric beds are obviously a group at risk as well and I have been speaking to the Chief Executive's office of the Northern Trust to highlight my concerns about my own constituents.

"It is vitally important that local agencies do their utmost to mitigate the impact this power shortage will have. Our councillors will be working on the ground and with statutory agencies until these matters are resolved."

Mr. McKay urged care workers or those looking after the elderly to inform their superiors if any old person found themselves without heat.

"All Agencies should ensure that if their workers are put in exposed areas where there are electricity shortages and they find people who are vulnerable to the conditions, should make sure that urgent measures are taken," Mr. McKay said.

He added: "If someone is without heat and he or she is elderly then steps must be taken that that person gets another form of heating from somewhere. Perhaps there's too much of a 'by the book' approach at present and a degree of common sense should be applied."

Mr. McKay said that the onus is also on the Housing Executive to ensure that there is adequate provision for people to heat their homes because in a number of cases the open fire has been replaced with oil heating.