Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2010
1 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for severe weather emergencies; if he will support local authorities financially to deal with the aftermath of the recent severe weather; his plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2945/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll local authority major emergency plans, including sub-plans for responding to severe weather events, are based on A Framework for Major Emergency Management, which became operative on 30 September 2008. The framework and the plans detail a co-ordination structure that enables the principal response agencies — local authorities, An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive — to work together to optimum effect and to integrate with other services including the Defence Forces and voluntary organisations. These co-ordination structures can be used whether a major emergency is declared. It is a principle of emergency management internationally that the response to emergencies builds from the basic organisational units with capability to respond. In Ireland, the principal response agencies are based locally and, where necessary, regionally.
As regards financial support for local authorities arising from the recent severe weather, details of extra costs that may arise are not yet available. The potential costs associated with roads repairs will be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport. Costs that may arise in respect of the repair of water mains damaged by the frost and the supply of water to residents who lost mains water supply will be considered when full details are available.
Having attended the national emergency response co-ordination committee, and in light of the interaction of the various Departments and statutory agencies, I am satisfied there was an active and sustained response to the recent severe weather conditions by the local authorities and the other principal response agencies, with the support of the Defence Forces and co-operation of other statutory and voluntary bodies. It will be important to learn from experience and accordingly a review of the emergency response co-ordination and inter-agency arrangements will be undertaken. This will assist in determining what further improvements can be achieved and identifying any relevant lessons that can be learned from the experience here and in other European countries over recent weeks.
I thank the front line services in local authorities and in all statutory bodies and agencies for the tremendous work they did over the past few months in dealing with flooding in the first instance and frost and snow in the past few weeks. In spite of funding cutbacks and staff cutbacks, they made a major contribution to keeping essential services going at local level. This was a first test of the Minister's national emergency plan. The website of the office of emergency planning was difficult to understand, stating: "a national framework for response to severe weather emergencies is being developed to ensure that all existing local severe weather plans are appropriately coordinated and linked." I want to bring this to the attention of the Minister and ask a question on it.
I am sure Deputy Hogan is referring to it rather than quoting from it.
I am referring directly to it in terms of what it says.
As Deputy Hogan knows, quotations are not in order.
Linkage and co-ordination is required. What linkage and co-ordination was carried out by the Department when it received plans from local authorities at the end of 2008? What appraisal was carried out? Was the Minister satisfied with all these particular plans and did he sign off on them? When will he receive submissions from local authorities indicating what moneys are required in order to deal effectively with the repairs to roads, water and other infrastructure damaged in the recent winter weather?
Regarding the last question, as Deputy Hogan knows, I have already received responses from local authorities. Deputy Hogan referred to this being a first test, but the flooding also presented a test. We reacted immediately. I was in a helicopter the very next day and visited Cork, Ennis and Ballinasloe. On every occasion I met with the managers. It was clear to see that at local level the co-ordination plans were working very well. On each occasion I met the emergency services. I am glad Deputy Hogan praised their efforts because they are fully deserving of praise. Their task was monumental and they went about it with great civic spirit. The communities also deserve praise for the way they dealt with it.
Deputy Ciarán Lynch may be interested in the fact that I met with two managers from Cork, Cork city and County Cork, and assured them that this Department would not be found wanting when it came to dealing with additional costs. We met with County Galway managers in Ballinasloe and I assured them of my support. Last December, I recouped savings in the Department and over €16 million was paid out to 19 local authorities for exceptional costs arising from the floods in November. The frost and severe weather we experienced recently has just come to an end and we are still considering the damage in a range of areas. We have heard much on potholes in roads recently but that relates to a different Department. In respect of water infrastructure, I will examine proposals from local authorities.
I take it the Minister is giving an undertaking that additional funds will be provided in 2010 arising from submissions received.
I am not giving any such an undertaking at this stage.
The Minister is saying there is no money and that he will not provide any money.
I will answer if Deputy Hogan asks a question.
The Minister should allow me to conduct the debate.
The Minister should put his money where his mouth is.
I have asked the Minister if he will give an undertaking in the House that additional funds will be provided to deal with water and other infrastructure. The Minister has some responsibility as a member of Government in charge of local government to ensure that services provided by local government are properly funded in respect of roads. It is only recently that local roads were transferred to the National Roads Authority and the Minister for Transport. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has a responsibility to ensure that local authorities are properly funded. The Minister did not open his mouth about the €173 million cut in roads last April.
I do not agree with the Deputy. The roads function and funding for roads, as Deputy Hogan knows too well, transferred to the Department of Transport. Deputy Hogan referred to websites earlier. I have looked at websites of various councils and have seen the budgets for winter maintenance. I discovered that Fine Gael, which has a majority on many of these councils, decided in its wisdom to cut the winter maintenance budget. Deputy Hogan can check this for himself. Deputy Hogan has a responsibility at local level because Fine Gael is in charge of those budgets.
They are starved of funds.
Pathetic.
That is a cop-out.
It is a cop-out on the part of Fine Gael. Even the small bit of responsibility it has, it cannot exercise.
When will the Minister make a decision on the submissions regarding funding to local authorities that affect his Department? I know it does not matter to you because you have only three councillors around the country but it matters to Fine Gael.
You have a majority and you are not exercising that responsibility.
The Minister should speak through the Chair.
I am talking directly to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
You said "you".
I must try to be very careful in the presence of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
In the presence of anyone who is in the Chair.
We will look at submissions but the most important issue is the water issue. I have examined some of Deputy Hogan's latest press releases, which state that we have cut water conservation grants. That is not the case; we will increase the amount of money for water conservation. I will make an announcement about that in the near future.
