Vol. 432 No. 7
88 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment if, in the past five days, he has issued, or received, instructions setting out a command structure capable of dealing with local or national emergencies, the need for which was illustrated during the recent severe flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As I indicated in reply to Private Notice Questions of 15 June, it is a matter for the main response agencies — the health boards, the Garda and the larger local authorities — to determine the appropriate response to particular emergency situations and to activate their plans for dealing with difficulties, including those caused by heavy rainfall. To assist local authorities in the discharge of their responsibilities in this respect, my Department has provided apropriate advice and guidelines (including guidance in relation to control and co-ordination arrangements) based on a common framework for a co-ordinated response to major emergencies which was approved by Government in 1984. No further instructions have been issued recently.
