asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details of the emergency disaster plans devised for major accidents with particular reference to accidents that might be caused by dangerous chemicals.

The fire service and other local authority services concerned respond as necessary to major accidents including accidents involving hazardous substances. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the details of its emergency response plans having regard to local circumstances. In the case of major accidents involving other emergency services the local authority's response would be co-ordinated with that of the other services in accordance with the provision of relevant plans such as the health boards' major accident plans and the plans in respect of incidents involving the transport by rail of hazardous substances between Cork and Arklow, Dublin and Killala and Waterford and Dublin.