Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 179: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the state of preparedness of hospitals to cope with major disasters, for example train or air crashes, where multiple casualties would result, in view of the overcrowded and overstretched state of accident and emergency departments of the hospitals here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10325/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As part of the health reform programme, a national office of emergency planning was established within the Health Service Executive, HSE. Acute hospitals have emergency plans designed to cope with a surge in capacity requirement arising from a major emergency. The plans involve calling in off-duty doctors, nurses and other staff, opening additional areas to receive and treat casualties, cancelling admissions and discharging patients to free capacity.

The Government framework for a co-ordinated response to major emergencies was recently reviewed by an interdepartmental group, chaired by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This group also included representation from the Departments of Health and Children and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The revised framework will be presented to the Government shortly.