Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 November 2011
251 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the recommendations of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the management of severe weather events in Ireland and related matters, July 2010, in relation to the role of the ESB in major emerging management has been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32184/11]
View answerThe Framework for Major Emergency Management (2006) enables the Principal Response Agencies (An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive and Local Authorities) to prepare for and make a co-ordinated response to major emergencies. Structures are in place at regional and local levels so as to facilitate pre-planning and to ensure a co-ordinated response in the event of an emergency which is at regional or local level. These structures also enable collaboration with other relevant organisations. At national level, co-ordination of the emergency planning function takes place under the aegis of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, which is chaired by my colleague, the Minister for Defence. My Department, as lead Government Department for the management of severe weather emergencies, has responsibility to co-ordinate and lead the overall response across all Government Departments and agencies under their remit or within their sectors. This responsibility is discharged by convening and chairing of a National Co-ordination Group, in accordance with the Office for Emergency Planning Guidelines for Co-ordinating a National Level Emergency/ Crisis response. On the specific issue of the Joint Committee's recommendation relating to the ESB and major emergency management, I understand that, pending the development of a national flood forecasting and warning system which is being progressed by the Office for Public Works, the relevant local authorities have had discussions with the ESB and agreed an interim protocol to improve communications around flood events on rivers which are used by the ESB for hydro-electricity generation.
