The Irish Government has told Irish households to stock up on disposable barbecues to avoid disasters during the freezing weather promised for the forthcoming winter.

After studying the last two years bitterly cold winters and the situations which arose the Government has advised that citizens should have “some barbecue trays” to hand in case they get snowed in.

The Department for the environment said families could use the trays for cooking if the gas of electricity was cut off. They also recommended a campaign of “household and community resilience" to ensure people are safe, warm and well-fed this winter.

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This will be the fourth severely cold weather front to hit Ireland in the last two years. Last winter saw record low temperatures, November 2009 Ireland endured major widespread flooding and December 2009 Ireland witnessed “The Big Freeze” (as locals called it).

The Government’s advice came after review research carried out by the Irish National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management. They have mounted a campaign to advise people on measures they could take during the harsh winter weather.

Some of its 62 recommendations include:

- Householders should know how to turn off their water supply to avoid damage from ruptured pipes.
- Every home should have fuel, a shovel, salt, barbecue trays and water containers.
- Grit should be provided to local communities to help keep roads open and footpaths clear. Local authorities should identify priority routes, and public offices be kept clear.
- Businesses and homeowners should not be legally obliged to keep paths clear of snow and ice -- this could be unenforceable, particularly among the elderly or apartment owners.
- Stocks of rock salt to help keep roads open should be increased. The National Roads Authority has already done this -- three years supply will be in stock by November, or 190,000 tonnes.
- The review also found that warnings about flooding in Cork on November 19, 2009 were inadequate.