Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if all local authorities complied with the major emergency plan; the emergency plan in respect of each local authority; when each of these plans was last appraised; and the findings in respect of each plan. [44757/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The purpose of the Major Emergency Development Programme was to enable the Principal Response Agencies (the Garda Síochána, Health Service Executive and the main local authorities) to respond to a major emergency which occurs in, or affects, their functional areas in any part of the country. Under the Framework for Major Emergency Management, the Major Emergency Development Programme organised by my Department in the period 2006 to 2008 resulted in the Principal Response Agencies adopting Major Emergency Plans on 30 September, 2008.

The new system replaced a Framework in place since 1984. Preparedness appraisals were undertaken by the major local authorities at the end of 2008, reviewed by my Department, and deemed valid in accordance with the provisions of the new Framework. Copies of the various major emergency plans are available from the local authorities. While no authority declared a Major Emergency for the recent flooding, the procedures set out in the Major Emergency Plans were utilized to ensure an interagency co-ordinated response to the flooding. The various authorities, agencies and voluntary bodies used the preparedness steps of the Major Emergency Plans to underpin their response. I am satisfied, from my own visits to affected areas, and from reports received from these areas, that the Principal Response Agencies, together with the Defence Forces, Civil Defence, voluntary bodies, community groups and individuals responded as effectively as possible in the difficult circumstances involved, in dealing with the flooding in various parts of the country.