Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is certainly the case. During the flooding in east Galway, the biggest crisis we have seen in the area, the lead agency was the local authority which worked very closely with Civil Defence. It was appropriate that, in the incidents in Ballinasloe, the Army was also involved. The Department of Defence is to be the parent body of Civil Defence. We saw on the ground the three agencies working closely to ensure lives were protected and damage to property was minimised. This is a good move and I very much welcome the assurances given by the Minister of State on staffing levels and resourcing equipment and vehicles.