John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Ní thógfaidh mé mórán ama. Tá mise ag iarraidh labhairt maidir leis na seirbhísí éigeandála a luaigh muid roimhe seo agus a labhair Seán Ó Domhnaill faoi. We could underestimate how important the humanitarian hubs were in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn. When people were without power for two to three weeks and had no ability to cook a meal, have a hot drink or have a hot shower, particularly in the west of Ireland where it was very badly hit, we relied on these hubs without any preparatory work or any prior engagement. Dúirt Cóilín O’Reilly níos luaithe go mbeadh 400 of these community hubs but we need to know specifically where they are and how well they are resourced and ready.

Mr. Ó Domhnaill did acknowledge the local authority made contact after the storm but, in terms of preparatory work, I am not sure there has been the level of engagement there should be from the local authority. That might fall to the local authority, but we need to know where they are and how prepared they are. I am familiar with the one that Mr. Ó Domhnaill referenced and there was another one in Carna, Connemara. However, there were large areas of Connemara with no humanitarian hub. We need to make sure that does not happen next time, and that they are prepared and ready.

On the role of the Defence Forces in coming to the aid of civil authorities, there still a grey area in that regard. Deputy Fitzmaurice mentioned the immediate response. Perhaps the Defence Forces could be called on to participate in that immediate response where roads are blocked and we are concerned about people who will fail to access the humanitarian hub or get around. What work is done on that area?

A connected matter relates to the Civil Defence. It is the remit and role of local authorities to prepare the Civil Defence but there is great variation across the country in the numbers involved in the Civil Defence and the roles they carry out. How will they be used in the future?