Written answers

Thursday, 29 September 2005

Department of Defence

National Emergency Plan

5:00 pm

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Defence the amount of funding which was allocated for emergency planning and the implementation of such plans in the Department of Defence's budget for 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. [25678/05]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The office of emergency planning was established following a Government decision in October 2001 as a joint civil and military office within the Department of Defence. The office supports the work of the Government task force on emergency planning, which I chair, and continues to work with Departments and other public authorities to ensure the best possible use of resources and compatibility between different planning requirements. A key area of activity is overseeing emergency planning; refining and developing the arrangements that exist, continuously improving them through review and revision, and generally providing the basis for increased confidence in the emergency planning process.

The interdepartmental working group on emergency planning supports the work of the task force, carries out studies and oversees emergency planning structures and processes. The group encompasses all Departments with lead roles in the various Government emergency plans and the key public authorities, including the Defence Forces, which plan to support such activities. This working group, under the guidance of the Government task force, continues to meet and is chaired by the emergency planning office. It is a forum for developing strategic guidance to all those involved in emergency planning and for sharing information on emergency planning. The lead responsibility for specific emergency planning functions remains with the relevant Departments, as do budgetary, exercise programmes and resource management requirements. The Department of Defence does not have a specific budgetary allocation for emergency planning as emergency plans are co-ordinated by the various lead Departments at a national level and through the local authorities, including the fire service, the Health Service Executive and the local and regional Garda divisions.

Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces are the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning in practice to assist the Garda Síochána and other civil authorities when requested. The various components of the Defence Forces are active in this regard, providing any assistance that is appropriate in specific circumstances. The capacity of the Defence Forces to deal with major emergencies is kept under constant review. Plans and procedures are updated as necessary and such additional equipment as is required to address any perceived deficiencies is acquired on the basis of identified priorities. Training and preparation for such events is also provided for in the annual training plan of the Defence Forces. The total budgetary allocation to the Defence Forces includes overall provision for these roles and other roles which may be assigned to the Defence Forces by the Government.

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