Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if additional funding is being provided to his Department this year due to additional expenditure arising following storm Éowyn; if additional funding is provided, the programmes and schemes that will benefit from this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14564/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies. However, where requested the Defence Forces provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or an emergency situation, as part of their Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role.

In relation to Storm Éowyn, the Defence Forces accommodated requests for assistance under Government Task Force (GTF) mechanisms from a number of agencies. This assistance included for example, air patrols of electricity lines by the Air Corps, support to the National Ambulance Service, providing accommodation for prison staff during the red warning phase and the provision and transportation of equipment and supplies (including generators) to affected areas.

In addition, Civil Defence units were extremely active during this period and provided excellent support to local communities.

However, no additional funding was provided to meet these costs, with all related expenditure met from within existing resources on the Defence Vote.