Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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151. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are plans to bridge the gap between local authorities and telecom providers with a view to ensuring more resilient communications during and post weather events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22892/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Following on from Storm Éowyn there has been a lot of focus on the lessons to be learned to ensure that there is much better coordination between the various stakeholders who have a role to play in making communication networks more resilient for next winter.

Resilience actions can include taking actions to harden the networks in advance of storms, such as having extended-life batteries at mobile sites and strengthening masts to withstand severe wind gusts. But proper resilience planning also involves having clear protocols in place to deal with the damage and disruption that will inevitably occur notwithstanding investments in hardened infrastructure. In relation to the gap between the network operators and the local authorities there is a need to have a much clearer understanding and agreement about who does what in the immediate aftermath of a severe weather event.

While the biggest impact caused to telecoms networks during and after Storm Éowyn was the loss of grid power over large areas, the response to the damage caused to the networks was hindered by the sheer level of fallen trees and vegetation. Given that the fixed networks run along the roadside, unlike the electricity networks which run cross-country, those copper and fibre overhead networks are more susceptible to roadside vegetation. Clarity about responsibility for the management of that vegetation is needed.

That means clarity about who is responsible for trimming the trees and branches and how often that should be done. And it means having clarity about procedures to clear trees and branches from roads after a storm in a way that does not do further damage to communication networks infrastructure. While the sheer volume of debris that was created by Storm Éowyn may have overwhelmed the operators, the local authorities and other stakeholders this time, there will be no excuse to not be prepared for a recurrence of this kind of storm next winter.

My Department is liaising with both the Local Government Management Association and directly with local authorities to bottom out issues such as these. The Department is particularly focusing on understanding the impacts of Storm Éowyn on the worst affected counties. The local authorities are still in the process of finishing their post-storm assessments and my officials will work with them to identify the key issues that need to be addressed to ensure much improved restoration times in the future.