162. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Defence the resources that have been provided to support the Defence Forces' capacity in the event of extreme weather; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53694/26]

At the outset, I should say that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and his Department are the Lead Government Department for preparing and responding to severe weather events.

Ireland's policy on cross-government emergency management is detailed in the document titled Strategic Emergency Management: National Structures and Framework. Ireland operates a lead government department model in emergency planning. The lead government department has the mandate and responsibility to coordinate all national level activity for its assigned emergency types. The Lead Government Department role includes risk assessment, planning and preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery.

The Office of Emergency Planning, in my Department, assists and provides support to the Lead Government Departments during emergency events.

Turning to the role of the Defence Forces during extreme weather events, as the Deputy will be aware, the Defence Forces are not the first responders in either the preparedness nor in the recovery phase of such events. Their role, when called upon, is to assist civilian authorities in dealing with the various challenges which can present. Supports provided by the Defence Forces range from the provision of helicopter flights carrying ESB personnel in order to identify the extent of the affected network, to collection and distribution of equipment to different sectors requiring assistance or filling and distribution of sandbags etc.

The Defence Forces continues to stand ready to assist in emergency scenarios as part of the whole-of-Government, whole-of-society response at both the national and local level. Based on their performance during the most recent events, I am satisfied that the Defence Forces are readily prepared to assist when called upon.