Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to increase the role of the Defence Forces members in local authority areas in severe weather conditions. [24525/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Whilst the Defence Forces are not a Principal Response Agency, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide assistance in an Aid to the Civil Authority (ATCA) role under the multi-agency Framework. Representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, by both my Department and the Defence Forces, ensures the fullest coordination and cooperation with the appropriate lead Department in the event of an emergency. The Defence Forces are also members of eight Regional Working Groups that have been established under the Framework in order to coordinate the work of the Principal Response Agencies. Furthermore, on an ongoing basis, designated members of the Defence Forces, based around the country, act as Liaison Officers to Local Authorities and I am satisfied that this arrangement works well locally.

The various procedures that are in place, both nationally and locally, were seen to operate very effectively during the Winter of 2010 as the Defence Forces responded to all requests for assistance received from the civil authorities during the period of severe weather which ran from 27 November to 26 December 2010.

During this period, all assets, resources and capabilities of the Defence Forces nationally were made available to the Task Force, and its Inter Agency Coordination Committee, for the purpose of providing assistance where it was not possible for other agencies and organisations to respond.

I believe that the response of the Defence Forces proved to be extremely effective and I am satisfied that the Defence Forces will provide the same level of support if requested should the need arise again.

Question No. 25 answered with Question No. 16.

Question No. 26 answered with Question No. 7.