Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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511. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will respond to issues raised in correspondence from a person (details supplied); the way in which his Department responded to the declaration of the status red alert weather warning for its own employees and to the public generally; the protocols now in place for future status red alert weather warnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47931/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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In its role as Lead Government Department for coordinating the response to severe weather events, my Department is concerned to ensure that public safety messages are disseminated as effectively as possible and are aimed at the communities or sectors that are considered to be vulnerable for the particular circumstances of the emergency.  Appropriate safety messaging is developed and delivered by each sector of Government in light of experience and its own perceived needs. A programme of intensive safety messaging was implemented in advance of and during Storm Ophelia on foot of the Red Level Weather Warning issued by Met Éireann.

The two main queries raised in the correspondence referred to in the Question concern the rules or guidelines in place for employers regarding responses to Red Level Weather Warnings and the guidance that was issued to employers, to the self-employed, and to those working in the public sector regarding work related travel on 16 October 2017 during Storm Ophelia.

These issues fall under the remit of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in respect of the private sector and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of the public sector. My Department will be engaging  with both these Departments to request that they consider the issues raised and provide material for inclusion in the report to Government on Storm Ophelia which is currently being prepared.

In view of the Red Level weather warning, on 13 October 2017, my Department, through its National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management activated its procedures for responding to a severe weather event.

On the morning of 15 October 2017 a decision was taken to close Departmental offices located in counties for which Red Level weather warnings applied at that time. That evening, in light of updated weather warnings received from Met Éireann, my Department decided that its Headquarters at the Custom House would be substantially closed on 16 October. All contactable Dublin based staff were subsequently informed that, while the building would be open, only essential personnel would be required to attend.

The response to Storm Ophelia is currently being reviewed. A report is being prepared which will be submitted to the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning for its attention before being submitted for the consideration of Government in January 2018.