Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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603. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on his engagements with his European counterparts, and the European Union, regarding assistance to alleviate the impact of storm Éowyn; the timeframe in which it was first considered to seek assistance; when a request for assistance was first made; if an offer of support was offered in advance of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2800/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Storm Éowyn was named by the UK Met Office on Tuesday, 21 January 2025 - the fifth named storm of the 2024-25 windstorm season. It was forecast to be a deep low-pressure system, set to track to the northwest of Ireland, introducing strong south-easterly winds which would then veer west to south-westerly and intensify through the morning of Friday 24, January. The system was also forecast to bring spells of heavy rain across different parts of the country and sleet and snow to parts of the west and north in particular. Widespread Red and Orange weather warnings were issued across Ireland and the United Kingdom ahead of the rapidly strengthening storm.

The Crisis Management Team of my Department's National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM), having identified the potential severe weather in advance of the naming of Storm Éowyn, began liaising with Met Éireann on Monday, 20 January to track the progress of this severe weather event, and to prepare for the onset of this storm. Evolving weather models were monitored very closely during this period, with Met Éireann advising that Ireland would experience extremely dangerous and damaging weather conditions.

Ireland has been actively working with colleagues in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism since Thursday 23 January, requesting an initial damage assessment through Copernicus (satellite mapping) while also providing Aristotle scientific data supplied by the Joint Research Centre in Espira, Italy. When severe emergencies occur, national authorities first develop an overview of the situation, making requests based on the needs identified. It is essential that a needs assessment be carried out to ensure appropriate and detailed requests can be made for limited shared resources and to ensure that the necessary logistics and transport can be actioned effectively. The NECG, working with the sectors affected by Storm Éowyn, prioritised impact assessment at the earliest stage in the recovery phase, once it was safe to deploy frontline staff. Consequently, the NECG Sub Group on Infrastructure identified the need for large capacity generator support which was relayed through the Common Emergency Communications & Information System (CECIS) on the afternoon of Saturday, 25 January.

The latest information in regard to generators at the time of writing is as follows:

18 generators have been offered to Ireland.

10 x 27.5 kVA (RescEU Stockpile, Poland), arrived on the 31/01/2025, to support the telecom network providers

2 x 512 kVA (RescEU stockpile, Poland), arrived on the 30/01/2025, to support ESBN

1 x 100 kVA ( Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA),Denmark), arrived on the 29/01/2025, to support Uisce Éireann

4 x 150 kVA ( DEMA,Denmark), arrived on the 29/01/2025, to support Uisce Éireann

1 x 60 kVA (Luxembourg), to support Uisce Éireann

The generators from Denmark (4) arrrived on Wednesday, 29 January through Rosslare Harbour, and have been made available to Uisce Éireann. The generators from Poland 2 x 512 KvA arrived into Dublin on the 30 January by Romanian military plane, with a further 10 will arrive by air through Dublin Airport on Friday 31 January, and these will be made available to support communications infrastructure. Transport has been provided by the Defence Forces to the various locations. Finally, a generator arrived from Luxembourg via Rosslare Harbour on Monday 3 February.