Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will clarify the legal position in respect of householders and business owners clearing footpaths of snow and ice in front of their property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28795/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As lead Government Department with responsibility for co-ordinating the emergency response to severe weather, my Department has finalised and published The Report on the Review of the Response to Exceptional Severe Weather Events of 2009-2010 .

The Report, which is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie , sets out the sequence of events as they occurred, draws various conclusions and makes recommendations to improve preparedness and increase resilience for future severe weather events. It recognises and acknowledges the very considerable community and voluntary contribution during the severe weather, and recommends that this should be fostered and encouraged as part of the overall response to future such events.

It recommends that the good practice which has emerged in relation to making grit available at drop-points to local communities should be adopted as a consistent and standard practice by all local authorities and relevant guidance be prepared and disseminated. Guidance on this is being prepared by my Department in conjunction with local authorities and will be issued shortly. In this context the issues around legal liability of those acting in a voluntary capacity on behalf of the community are under consideration.