Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
227. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how his Department co-ordinates with rural emergency services to respond effectively to natural disasters and emergencies in rural regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42611/23]
View answerMy Department is designated as 'Lead Government Department', as set out in the Government approved Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to coordination of response to flooding and certain other emergencies at national level where warranted. Other Departments have lead roles in respect of other specific types of emergencies, as set out in the SEM Framework.
My Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) undertakes this function when my Department has a lead role and works closely with Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams. At a national level, the Department is responsible for the co-ordination of the ‘whole-of-Government’ response, facilitating collective decision making and ensuring aligned public safety messaging among a broad range of departments, organisations and groups who have a role to play in any of the given seven emergency types under its remit.
Local authorities are designated as a principal response agency as well as being 'lead agency' for coordinating the response to severe weather, such as flooding, as per the Government decision relating to the “Framework for Major Emergency Management” (2006).
The arrangements for emergency management have evolved and, when called upon, are seen as having worked well, in particular the responses to flooding and severe weather events, as well as fire and other emergencies led by local authorities. All local authorities have Severe Weather/ Flood Plans in place to support the response to weather emergencies and Section 26 Fire and Emergency Operations Plans as part of their individual Major Emergency Plans. Local authorities also have a Severe Weather Assessment Team in place, monitoring Met Éireann weather warnings and OPW and EFAS flood advisory/ warnings and High Tide Advisories.
Local authorities and their fire services, be they in rural or urban locations, are usually the first to respond to many natural disasters or other emergencies in their area, and they are well equipped to do so. However, should the incident escalate, or require the declaration of a Major Emergency, there are processes in place, through the Framework for Major Emergency Management, for the co-ordination of an interagency response, that can move from local, to regional and onto National level as required. During all such events, the Crisis Management Team of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management are on hand to assist local authorities in their response.
