asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the plans in operation to cope with major disasters.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Major Disaster Plans.
1.
Plans have been drawn up by each health board to deal with major accidents that arise in their areas.
The plans lay down procedures to be followed by the various services — including the ambulance service, hospitals, the Garda, the fire service, the Army, helicopter service, Civil Defence authorities and voluntary first-aid organisations — to ensure that an effective and co-ordinated approach is adopted by all concerned.
The major accident plans have been brought into operation on a number of occasions in recent years and have proved satisfactory. The plans are reviewed from time to time and my Department will be holding discussions soon with officers of the health boards to ensure that the plans drawn up for each area take account of the lessons learnt from recent major accidents, including the train crash at Buttevant on 1 August 1980.
May I ask the Minister three questions: firstly, do the plans to which he refers, which are overseen by the health boards, include up-dated regulations or proposals to deal with toxic waste and accidents arising from incidents which would involve toxic chemicals? Secondly, who, if anyone, co-ordinates the activities of the health boards in this respect to ensure that there is some cohesion or parallel operation, avoiding duplication and so on? Does the Minister or anybody adopt a role of that nature? Thirdly, could the House, and myself specifically, be furnished with copies of the details of these plans?
In regard to the first question in relation to toxic waste, the procedure is similar in the case of toxic waste. The same plan applies but, of course, different equipment is used in those circumstances.
When was that last up-dated?
They are up-dated by way of the reviews which take place regularly.
When was the last?
There is one going on at present. For instance, since the last crash there has been one going on. In regard to the question of who co-ordinates the plans, they are co-ordinated at health board level.
National level.
But beyond that I have taken as my responsibility their co-ordination. As may have been seen in relation to the Buttevant disaster, I went to the scene to see the plan in operation. I had some views on the plan myself as a result of seeing its operation for that major disaster. I arranged that a report be prepared on the operation of the plan subsequently, although it is accepted entirely that the plan operated extremely well in the circumstances of that particular disaster. Nevertheless, on any occasion on which the plan operates, it is possible to learn. A report has been prepared and is being discussed by the health boards. I am due to meet them very shortly — I think next week — for a further discussion. The normal procedure is that there is co-ordination in that way. I accept the point the Deputy makes, that they are based specifically on the health boards and within each health board area but I, as Minister, am concerned that they be co-ordinated in an overall way.
The third question related to copies. Certainly I will get copies for the Deputy. They are slightly different in the different health board areas but I shall get a sample for the Deputy. In fact it is somewhat more complicated — there are courses on them——
A précis.
I can get a copy for the Deputy.
Thank you.
I appreciate that the Minister is being helpful to the House. The Eastern Health Board cover a very large area and obviously there is more than one sub-division of any disaster plan for that region. Pursuing what the Minister has just offered the House, would it be possible for Deputies, and myself specifically if I were to write to the Minister, to get a copy of the disaster plan for certain areas of the city so that the residents and residents' associations of a particular area might be informed of the provisions made on their behalf?
I will let the Deputy have a copy of the plan which applies to the Eastern Health Board area. It is fairly intricate and something on which people take study courses.
I accept that.