Bernard Allen
Question:325 Mr. Allen 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. [17722/02]
Vol. 555 No. 1
325 Mr. Allen 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. [17722/02]
I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 186, 190 and 215 of today's date.
The primary response to such circumstances rests with the front line emergency services – Garda Síochána, and 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 their 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 individual Departments for services within their own areas of responsibility. My Department's role is to support the local authority service through a range of functions including capital funding, the development and upgrading of an emergency planning framework and guidelines and the provision of training and other initiatives to ensure the authorities respond promptly and effectively to emergencies.