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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Terrorist Attacks.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

736 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if local authorities have been put on alert to prepare for possible environmental or other attacks by terrorists; if he has satisfied himself with their state of preparedness, including their ability to communicate information to the public; and if he will make a general statement on the matter, indicating the measures which have been taken since this threat became known. [22214/01]

Donal Carey

Ceist:

740 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has approved the latest major accident plan prepared by Clare County Council; and if he has satisfied himself that it is a proper response to current emergencies. [22219/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 736 and 740 together.

My Department has exercised an ongoing oversight and support of local authority emergency services, through the financing of capital investment programmes, the development and updating of an emergency planning framework and guidelines and the promotion of training and other initiatives. In pursuance of this role, my Department has also recently commenced a major review of the fire services. Initial indications from this review confirm the generally good operational capacity and training of local authority fire services. The state of operational preparedness and professionalism underpins the ability of local authority emergency services to respond to present and prospective requirements.

In liaison with the high level contact group set up by the Government to monitor developments and emergency services following the events of 11 September, my Department has recently advised local authorities to review their major emergency plans and local plans, including plans for security protection of water resources and drinking water supplies, to ensure that they are up to date and effective. Local authorities have also been advised that information about current plans should be available to all service providers and to the public. I intend that the emergency services overseen and co-ordinated by my Department within this framework will co-operate fully with the further arrangements now established by the Government and which are set out in the reply of the Minister for Defence to Question No. 257 on today's Order Paper.

Clare County Council's major emergency plan, effective from 1 January 2001, will, together with other such plans, fall to be reviewed in light of the above.

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