Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

294. To ask the Minister for Defence the preparations in place in the event of bad weather over the next few months in relation to roads and other infrastructure. [46051/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I, along with my colleagues Deputy Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, and Deputy Paudie Coffey, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, launched the Government's annual 'Be Winter Ready' 2014-2015 Information Campaign on 13 November, 2014. The campaign aims to inform and reassure people that the Government has made preparations for the winter. Through a dedicated website , advice is being made available from a wide range of sources including Government Departments, An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive, Local Authorities and the transport providers. The advice has been categorised under various headings including: the Home, Road Safety, Schools, the Farming Community and the Business Sector and outlines how Government Departments and Agencies are addressing the necessary preparations for the winter, particularly with regard to our roads and other infrastructures should we experience bad weather periods.

The launch coincided with a meeting of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning,which I chair, which dealt with winter-preparedness issues from a “whole of Government” perspective. Updates were provided by the relevant lead Government Departments and agencies for the various sectors all of whom have honed their responses based on experiences over the last few years.

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

295. To ask the Minister for Defence the amount of funding provided to the Office of Emergency Planning in preparation for winter; the way this funding is being administered within the Office of Emergency Planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45816/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The estimated cost of Winter Ready 2014/15 is approximately €40,000. The Winter Ready campaign was introduced by the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning in November 2011 to provide advice and information to help the public be better prepared to deal with a period of severe weather. A website is available to provide practical advice and contact details of the main services that can provide help in extreme weather-related emergencies. The campaign aims to inform and reassure people that the Government has made preparations for the winter. The key message of the campaign is “to be prepared, stay safe and know where to get help should you need it”.

A cross Departmental working group of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning has met on a regular basis during 2014 to oversee the development of the 2014/15 ‘Be Winter Ready’ campaign by the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP). The role of the OEP is to ensure that there is a “whole of Government” approach to emergency planning while each lead Department/Agency retains responsibility for their specific winter preparedness.