Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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1039. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the existing mutual aid agreement with the United Kingdom, referenced in the Review of Storm Éowyn published on 21 October 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58592/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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1040. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of proposed new mutual aid agreement regarding energy with European countries, referenced in the Review of Storm Éowyn published on 21 October 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58594/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1039 and 1040 together.

My Department undertakes the Lead Government Department role, as set out in the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to the coordination of national level responses to severe weather and flooding emergencies, where necessary.

Local authorities are designated as the lead agencies for coordinating a response to flooding and severe weather emergencies. All local authorities have an established Severe Weather Assessment Team in place, monitoring Met Éireann weather warnings, High Tide Advisories and the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) advisory warnings. Local authorities also have Severe Weather/ Flood Plans in place to support the response to weather emergencies.

Storm Éowyn was named by the UK Met Office on Tuesday 21 January 2025, the fifth named storm of the 2024-25 windstorm season. Widespread red and orange weather warnings were issued across Ireland and the UK ahead of the rapidly strengthening storm. Ireland experienced one of its most damaging, dangerous and destructive weather events with gale force/storm force winds, including severe damaging and destructive gusts of over 183 km/h, a record for Ireland.

As the Lead Government Department for coordinating a response to severe weather, my Department's National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management co-ordinated the ‘whole-of-Government’ response to this severe weather event through the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG).

Following the conclusion of a response by the NECG, it is the responsibility of the Lead Government Department, under section 6.15 of the Strategic Emergency Management Framework to undertake a review and report to the Government Task Force (GTF).

A review of the coordinated response to Storm Éowyn was undertaken, examining all aspects of the response to Storm Éowyn, with a view to identifying the key lessons across all sectors and the implementation of recommendations. All relevant Government Departments were involved in this review process, including the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment.

The focus of this review is on identifying the lessons learned to assist with planning for future storms and strengthening resilience and coordination across all sectors.

As my Department has no role in the energy sector, it does not hold any records in relation to current mutual aid agreements ESB Networks have in place such as NEWSAC (North, East, West, South Area Consortium) or any proposals for future collaborations. My colleague, the Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment has responsibility for energy policy.