Vol. 417 No. 6
86 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment if he has satisfied himself that local authorities are capable of dealing with any major emergencies by way of major accident plans; when the major accident plan of each maritime county from Donegal to Cork was last operated or put on trial and updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following the adoption by the Government in 1984, of a common framework for co-ordinated response to major emergencies, major emergency plans have been drawn up by the main emergency services, the Garda, the health boards and the local authorities. The relevant local authorities have all prepared appropriate emergency plans which set out, inter alia, the functions of the different agencies involved and the other arrangements necessary to ensure a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach by the emergency services, including the local authorities, at major emergencies. The contents of the plans are generic in character and are therefore capable of being applied to all types of emergencies. Local authorities are required to keep their emergency plans up to date and to review them annually in consultation with the other emergency agencies. In June 1989 my Department issued detailed advice to local authorities in regard to the holding of exercises to test their plans.
