Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2026
158. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if plans have been reviewed for responding to extreme weather events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12522/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal 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’s 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.
As the Lead Government Department for coordinating responses to severe weather, my Department's National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM) co-ordinate the ‘whole-of-Government’ response to this severe weather event through the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG). The NDFEM work closely with local authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams, Met Éireann, other Departments and responding agencies.
Our local authorities are to the forefront of the response to high impact severe weather events. Their collective response capacity, combined with the support of all Government Departments and key agencies, co-ordinated through the NECG is a well-rehearsed response mechanism that works effectively.
My Department undertakes a review following any activation of the NECG. The key objective of such reviews is to enhance our coordination mechanisms and our preparedness, endeavouring to improve co-ordination.
Following Storm Éowyn, my Department through the NDFEM, undertook a review of NECG response that was circulated to the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning (under the Department of Defence) and submitted to Government. This review is published at
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/review-of-storm-%C3%A9owyn/.
The NDFEM updated the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning on the recommendations for which this Department is responsible in January 2026.
In 2025, all local authorities were requested to submit their severe weather and flood plans to the NDFEM. These plans were reviewed and a workshop was held on severe weather planning Q4 2025, attended by all local authorities. This workshop addressed good practice in relation to the development of severe weather plans.
Following from Storm Éowyn, a framework for the establishment of Community Support Centres, when required, was identified as a key priority for this Department. A guide was developed in conjunction with the local authority sector and is in place. Community Support Centres were activated in Donegal in the aftermath of Storm Amy and in Aughrim and Enniscorthy following Storm Chandra. These Community Support Centres (CSCs) provide a vital focal point in the community where people can gather, charge phones, get hot drinks and food and receive information and advice. My Department is supporting an initiative by the Department of Rural & Community Development & Gaeltacht for the provision of mobile generators to ensure that CSCs can continue to operate during prolonged power outages.
