Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The particular issue raised by the Deputy in the event of a status red severe weather warning code is a matter of wider application as it is equally applicable to the community in general. The Government task force on emergency planning, in which my Department participates, co-ordinates the overall response to such events. Departmental officials are currently engaging with the task force on this specific issue with a view to informing future practice. Officials from the Department are also in consultation with the office of emergency planning of the Department of Defence to enable such protocols to be developed. They are due to meet shortly with the management bodies for the primary and post-primary sector to review the issues and identify which measures should be put in place.

The Department is aware that different weather events which warrant a red alert may have different implications for schools.

In particular, a weather event caused by severe wind, as experienced in January and February this year, presents particular issues in the potential damage it may cause and in the sudden and localised nature of such an event. The red alert arising from a wind event will be taken into account in any protocols which may be devised.

Currently, the lead agencies in regard to determining the appropriate emergency response in any region where there is an extreme weather event or other critical incident are the local authorities and blue light services. In that context, the Department of Education and Skills has brought to the attention of all schools departmental circular PBU 04/04, entitled contingency planning in the context of a national emergency. In particular, this circular requires schools to ensure up-to-date contact details are provided to the local authority.

The Department, as a member of the national co-ordinating committee, acts a conduit for information between the national authorities and the wider education sector at the time of such events. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has the responsibility for leading the response to weather related emergencies. The Department of Transport plays a major supporting role as transport is one of the main sectors affected by severe weather.

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