Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 421: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent of oil and chemicals currently in Dublin Port; if there is an adequate protocol for transporting hazardous chemicals; if there is a comprehensive evacuation plan in the event of an accident; and the extent of the training for port staff in emergency situations. [16375/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Dublin Port Company has storage capacity for approximately three hundred thousand tons of oil. The volume on site can vary on any given day. The port does not accept chemicals in bulk and has advised that there are adequate procedures in place for the transportation of hazardous chemicals through the Port.

Dublin Port currently has in place an Emergency Management Plan. This plan is publicly available on Dublin Port Company's website www.dublinport.ie. The plan covers major fire within the port, major oil spill, major spill of hazardous material, a vehicle accident involving hazardous material, chemical incidents (e.g. toxic cloud) and major incidents in storage areas. Plans for evacuation in the event of an accident are an integral component of the Emergency Plan and training is conducted annually to ensure all staff receive training in relation to their role in an emergency situation and are familiar with the plan. It is the responsibility of each tenant company in Dublin Port to have in place an emergency plan for their own facility.

Dublin Port is located within the Dublin City Council administrative area. The Framework for Major Emergency Management 2006 details the emergency management process for co-ordination of response to any major incident by the Principal Response Agencies (An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive, and the local authorities, including fire brigade). In September 2008 all Principal Response Agencies adopted new major emergency plans in accordance with the Framework. The emergency services regularly carry out exercises with the Dublin Port Authority and Port Companies to test preparedness measures.