1016. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures being taken to improve public awareness about alarms and incidents (details supplied); if measures are taken to inform large workplaces, schools and residents in areas close to Seveso establishments about steps to take in case of an emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60080/26]

The provision of public information in case of an emergency at COMAH/Seveso establishments is provided for within the Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) legislation under the Chemicals Act (Control of Major Hazards (COMAH) Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2015 (SI No 209/2015).

All COMAH establishments must plan for emergencies, and upper-tier COMAH establishment operators have further duties to prepare internal emergency plans for measures to be taken within the establishment in the event of an emergency. Separately, the local competent authorities (the Fire Service, HSE and An Garda Síochána) are responsible for preparing external emergency plans for upper-tier COMAH establishments.

Such emergency plans must address, among other matters, arrangements for warning the public, communicating necessary information to the public and emergency services, and setting out the behaviour expected in the event of a major accident. Internal and external emergency plans must be reviewed, updated where necessary, and tested at intervals not exceeding three years.

All operators of upper-tier establishments must ensure they provide all persons likely to be affected by a major accident with clear, intelligible information on safety measures and behaviours to adopt in the event of a major accident, regularly and in the most appropriate form (without having to request it). This information must include, at a minimum, the information set out in Schedule 5 of the Regulations and must be supplied to all buildings and areas of public use, including schools and hospitals, and, where relevant, neighbouring establishments. Operators of upper-tier establishments must consult with the relevant local competent authorities on the suitability of the information to be provided to persons likely to be affected. The Regulations further require this information to be reviewed and, where necessary, updated and supplied at least every five years. The information also requires a review if relevant modifications occur at the establishment.

Operators of upper tier establishments in conjunction with the local competent authorities responsible for the external emergency plan are also required to implement arrangements for providing an alert of a major accident at their establishment. This alert is generally provided through a community siren, audible to all persons likely to be affected by a major accident at an establishment.

In the event of a major accident at a COMAH establishment, the local competent authority must inform persons likely to be affected by the accident, where relevant, of the measures they should undertake to mitigate its consequences.

The Regulations also require operators of all COMAH establishments to provide the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), as the Central Competent Authority, with the information to be made permanently available to the public, including by electronic means, specified in Part 1 of Schedule 5 of the COMAH Regulations. Additionally, operators of upper tier COMAH establishments must provide the HSA with the information to be made permanently available to the public, including by electronic means, specified in Part 2 of Schedule 5 of the COMAH Regulations. The HSA publishes this information on its website for each COMAH establishment.