John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"— shares the Government's appreciation of the work of local authorities, Health Service Executive, the Garda Síochána, Defence Forces, Civil Defence and other statutory bodies in responding to the November 2009 flooding and recent severe weather events;

— recognises the contribution by voluntary organisations and individuals and the assistance provided to their fellow citizens during the two weather events;

— commends the Government's use of the national emergency response co-ordination committees to provide direction to the management of the response issues during the flooding and severe weather events;

— recognises the significant funding made available by the Government over recent years under the Water Services Investment Programme in response to specific environmental, public health and economic needs;

— welcomes, despite the current difficult economic situation, the provision of €508 million in 2010 for the Water Services Investment Programme;

— notes the Minister's intention to effect a reprioritisation in the new Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012 with a very significant increase in investment in water conservation aimed at addressing the unacceptably high levels of leakage in local authority water supplies;

— notes the significant progress being made to implement water quality management and flood relief planning on a river basin basis;

— notes the progress being made by local authorities to repair water mains damaged on foot of recent severe weather events;

— notes that during the prolonged severe weather 14,000 km or 14.5 per cent of the public road network of 96,000 km was gritted daily and sometimes twice daily;

— acknowledges that the national road network together with other key strategic roads and public transport routes was kept open to traffic at all times;

— notes that €5.7 billion has been contributed from the Exchequer for local and regional roads since 1997 and that despite the difficult financial situation over €411 million is being made available for 2010;

— welcomes that the priority for regional and local roads for 2010 is to safeguard the existing investment and repair the damage caused by the recent severe weather; and

— commends the Minister's intention to review the operation of the emergency response arrangements under the Framework for Major Emergency Management in relation to the two weather events to learn from the experience gained and to ascertain if any improvements are necessary and which may be applicable in managing the emergency response to future such events."

I am pleased to contribute to today's debate on this Private Members' motion and set the record straight regarding the response to the recent severe weather. The Government appreciates all the personnel of the various agencies, both public and voluntary, individuals and communities for their the useful work in assisting their fellow citizens during the recent severe weather event .

The severe weather brought out the best in community spirit. Individuals and community and voluntary organisations played an invaluable role. This includes those who cleared snow and ice from outside their homes and business premises, people who visited their neighbours to ensure that they had food and heat and those who manned telephone help lines.

The cold weather started on 17 and 18 December and lasted through to the middle of this month. It was characterised by extremely low temperatures over a prolonged period, with a widespread incidence of snow and ice. The last such occurrences in Ireland were the winters of 1963 and 1978-79. We had a blizzard and lower temperatures in January 1982 which caused widespread disruption, but the thaw set in within a week. It is clear, therefore, that such prolonged severely cold weather is extremely rare and our response must take this into account.

At this point I clarify my Department's role during the difficult weather period, particularly from the beginning of the year. Its primary role is to ensure that the local authorities are prepared to respond promptly to deal with issues directly under their remit. The Department also has a role to ensure that councils act in co-operation with the other principal response agencies - the Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive - the voluntary agencies and the Defence Forces to limit the effects on individuals whose lives may be put at risk or who may be exposed to serious hardship. The main concern, therefore, is that effective emergency plans are in place. The management of the emergency response on the ground then falls to the local authorities and the other response agencies. It is a principle of emergency management internationally that the response to emergencies builds from the basic organisational units with a capability to respond. In Ireland, the principal response agencies are based locally and, where necessary, regionally.

As was experienced during the flooding event in November last, the local authorities are prepared to respond promptly and effectively. Part of the local authorities' preparation includes ensuring that arrangements are in place to receive early warnings from Met Éireann and where necessary to be proactive in public relations and public information. The Met Éireann forecasting arrangements entail a single system known as public service severe weather warning and cover meteorological conditions and elements such as wind, rain, thunderstorm and coastal storm surge. The emphasis is on warning of weather events that will cause significant disruption or constitute a significant risk for people. Met Éireann issues a severe weather warning to local authorities where conditions are forecast in accordance with criteria set down by the authority.

The Framework for Major Emergency Management put in place in recent years enables the Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive and local authorities to prepare for and make co-ordinated responses to a variety of major emergencies whenever a major emergency occurs. All principal response agencies have major emergency plans based on this framework since September 2008, and the various State and voluntary bodies used the procedures and training they received in responding to the difficulties encountered in their areas. The framework also includes a sub-plan for responding to severe weather events.

There are two levels of public response which require consideration - the local response and the national response. On local response, the co-ordination and inter-agency arrangements worked well in so far as was reasonably feasible. We must recognise that local authorities cannot salt all of the 96,000 km of roads in the country, which is extensive by European standards, or the footpaths of which in Dublin city area amount to 2,500 km. The local authorities kept the national roads, other key strategic roads and public transport routes, together totalling some 14,000 km, open for traffic over the 24 days that the severe weather lasted, which is an important point to keep in mind at all times. These roads carry an estimated 60% of total traffic and 80% of commercial traffic. While driving conditions were sometimes difficult, which can be expected in such weather, it was possible for the public and private sectors to maintain their delivery and receipt of goods and services. In response to Deputy Ring, the economy did not come to a halt. The economy continued because of the work done by the local authorities.

One could debate the response to the recent weather event at length comparing it to previous severe weather periods. What is important is the response to the prolonged period. Accessibility was maintained on the national road network and measures were in place to assist those in need by the statutory agencies and voluntary bodies. Like the flooding event, it was good to see the extent of co-operation and assistance from all organisations and individuals.

I note that the Fine Gael motion commends the local authorities and their staff for their response, which is a considerable change from what the party was saying during the cold weather when TDs accused local authorities of not doing their jobs.

See this speech in context