Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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401. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the protocols now in place for future status red alert weather warnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47923/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Following the declaration of a national status red weather warning by Met Éireann on Sunday 15th October 2017, and on foot of the recommendation of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group, that only essential travel should be undertaken during Storm Ophelia, my Department communicated with employees to inform them that the offices of the Department would remain closed on Monday 16 October 2017.

Only a small number of essential staff worked on the day in question. These staff were designated as essential for the purposes of co-ordinating the Department's response to the storm.