Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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207. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to increase warning signals for climate change storm mitigation in the future in order to reduce exposure to damage from storms such as Storm Ophelia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17862/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Met Éireann, Ireland’s National Meteorological Service, comes under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, as a line division of that Department. Met Éireann is the leading provider of weather information and related services in the State with its mission to monitor, analyse and predict Ireland’s weather and climate and to provide a range of high quality meteorological and related information to the public and to specific customers in, for example, the aviation and agricultural sectors. Questions in relation to Government policy on severe weather alerts are a matter for Met Éireann. Ireland’s National Adaptation Framework (NAF) which was published in January 2018 identifies Met Éireann as a key provider of technical and advisory support and climate services at national level. Met Éireann is also represented on the national adaptation steering committee, which is chaired by my Department and which coordinates climate adaptation policy at both national and local level. My Department will continue to liaise with Met Éireann and be guided by their expertise in relation to all areas that come under their remit.