Dealing in billions

Ireland's interest bill on borrowings is down from €7.5 billion in 2014 to €6.1 billion.

How much is a billion, is it a thousand million or a million million?

These days it seems Ireland and the UK have moved away from the million million to a thousand million for an understanding of a billion.

So, Ireland's interest bill is down from €7000,5000,000 to €6000,1000,000.

The Telephone Support Allowance, which comes into effect in June 2018, is €2.50. It will be given to people with State Pensions, who receive a fuel allowance. In other words, pensioners, whom the State considers to be financially vulnerable.

Can an organisation or a person who deals in €1000,000,000s, really understand what €2.50 might mean to a poor person?