Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

As chairman of the Government task force on emergency planning, I have emphasised the importance of raising public awareness of this issue and the work that is being undertaken by Government Departments and public authorities.

In October last year the Government approved my proposals to implement a public information and awareness campaign on emergency planning and I am pleased to say that preparations are at an advanced stage. I intend to launch the campaign in the early part of 2008.

The campaign will have a number of elements. Its main focus is the publication and distribution to every household in the country of a handbook on emergency planning. This will be the first time that information on all of the State's emergency plans are presented to the public in this way. The handbook will also provide practical advice on how individuals can prepare for some of the more common emergencies and where they can obtain further information.

The distribution of the handbook will be accompanied by an extensive media advertising campaign to let people know what it is about and to reassure them that there is no cause for alarm.

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