The government is preparing to advise households to keep a small reserve of cash at home as part of updated national guidance on preparing for emergencies. The new recommendation is expected to be issued in the coming weeks and is designed to help families cope during major disruptions such as widespread power outages, severe weather events or cyber-attacks that affect digital payment systems.
Several European countries — including Austria, Finland and the Netherlands — already recommend that households set aside €70 to €100 per person, enough to cover essential needs for up to 72 hours. Ireland is now set to move in a similar direction.
Tánaiste Simon Harris recently confirmed that updated guidelines will include advice to keep a modest amount of notes at home. The change marks a shift from long-standing warnings, particularly directed at older people, about the risks of storing cash in houses.
The move follows a series of incidents that highlighted the fragility of modern digital infrastructure. Storm Éowyn earlier this year left thousands without electricity, cutting off families from electronic payments and online services. In recent years, cyber incidents have also exposed vulnerabilities. The 2021 ransomware attack on the HSE disrupted healthcare systems nationwide, while global outages at Amazon Web Services and, more recently, technical failures at Cloudflare caused widespread service interruptions affecting retailers, apps and essential online platforms.
Speaking to RTÉ’s News at One, cybersecurity specialist Brian Honan of BH Consulting said that society’s dependence on digital systems has made contingency planning essential. “All our lives in some ways now are reliant on a digital element,” he said. “It’s sensible for businesses and individuals to consider keeping cash in the event of a prolonged outage.”
Honan added that companies should assess how they would operate during a failure of electronic systems. “If there is a power outage and you run a shop, can you still run your cash register?” he asked.
Organisations supporting older people say they are working to prepare vulnerable groups for both digital and physical disruptions. Seán Moynihan of Alone noted that while many older people were traditionally cautioned against keeping money at home, a small cash reserve is practical during emergencies. The charity has been increasing cyber-awareness training to help older people navigate digital systems safely while also encouraging realistic emergency planning.
“We all need access to cash for emergency purposes,” Moynihan said. “It’s good advice for older people and the rest of us.”
The new guidance is expected to outline recommended cash amounts and provide broader advice on how households can prepare for potential disruptions to essential services.
