Bernard J. Durkan
Question:145 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the role his Department will play in responding to a major catastrophe or emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7401/02]
Written Answers. - National Emergency Plan.
The primary response to such circumstances rests with the front line emergency services – the Garda Síochána, local authorities, including the fire brigade, and health boards. If required the front line emergency services can call on the support of the Defence Forces, Civil Defence, other voluntary organisations and relevant Departments.
Each of the front line emergency services has prepared its own plans and strategies for dealing with major emergencies. These plans set out the responsibilities of each service in an emergency and requirements in relation to co-ordination and testing. Any one of the three main emergency services can activate the plan which will likely involve a collaborative effort on the part of all the agencies.
At national level responsibility for emergency planning rests with Departments for services within their areas of responsibility. My Department's role is to support the local authority service through a range of functions including capital funding, which I have substantially increased during my term of office, the development and upgrading of an emergency planning framework and guidelines and the provision of training and other initiatives to ensure that the authorities respond promptly and effectively to emergencies.
In addition, my Department chairs an interdepartmental group, involving the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Health and Children and Defence. This committee is an advisory body which monitors and advises on the preparation, co-ordination and testing of plans by the emergency services as necessary, on the co-ordination arrangements at national level to facilitate the response of the local authorities, health boards and the Garda Síochána to major emergencies.
More recently the office of emergency planning in the Department of Defence, established following the events of 11 September, is required to exercise an oversight role in relation to peacetime planning in order to ensure the best possible use of resources and compatibility between the different planning requirements.