Extensive information activities have been carried out with a view to enabling the public, including older people, to make a smooth transition to the euro. The Euro Changeover Board of Ireland, ECBI, has been running national television, radio and newspaper campaigns. These campaigns have particularly targeted media, and times, aimed at reaching groups at risk of low awareness, including older people. The board has also carried out other extensive public information activities since its establishment in 1998. These have included distributing a leaflet to every household every year since 1998, including earlier this year; widespread circulation of leaflets and posters otherwise; provision of a LoCall enquiry line; and provision of materials for people with low awareness of the euro including a number of conversion charts, some of which are particularly suitable for older people with visual impairment. The ECBI has also produced a euro bingo game which is proving popular with older people.
In 1998 the board set up a consultative panel of organisations representing people in low-awareness groups or people likely to have special needs for the changeover, in order to help identify their needs, advise on how they should be met and help in meeting them. The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, the National Council for Ageing and Older People, Age Action Ireland, Age and Opportunity and Muintir na Tíre represent older people on this panel. Information materials have been widely distributed through the networks of organisations represented on the panel. In addition, in 1999 the ECBI sent an information pack on the euro to over 900 centres for older people around the country. The information pack included posters, information leaflets and a public information video. The board also distributed information packs to every citizens information centre and money advice and budgeting centre in the country.