Central
Department of Defence
- Coordination and overseeing of planning for emergencies;
- Civil defence, including first aid, search and rescue, firefighting, boating techniques, radiation monitoring, radio communications and welfare, at the national level (the Civil Defence Board, with the enactment of the Civil Defence Act 2002);
- Providing support to the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning[1].
Irish Civil Defence, (part of the Department of Defence)
- Undertaking non-combatant activities and measures to afford defence against or mitigate the effects on persons and property of an attack on the state or of hazards otherwise arising during a time of war or emergency such as from radioactive fallout, biological or chemical warfare.
Principal response agencies (PRAs)
- Designated by the central government to respond to major emergencies. They include An Garda Síochána,[2] the Health Service Executive and the local authorities. Each principal emergency service is part of a larger PRA;
- Moreover, and depending on the nature of the emergency, agencies other than the PRAs, such as the Defence Forces or the voluntary emergency services, may be required;
- For policing purposes, Ireland is divided into four regions , each of which has a regional Assistant Commissioner. Each region is made up of a number of Garda divisions.
Responsible ministries/bodies
Department of Defence
Health Service Executive
Principal response agencies
Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
Local
Civil defence is split into 32 administrative areas based largely on local authorities' administrative areas. Local authorities are responsible for:
- Delivering civil defence services;
- Planning organising and recruiting for civil defence (Civil Defence Officers or Assistant Civil Defence Officers of the administrative areas);
- Managing fire services.
The 30 Fire Services in Ireland are managed at local authority level, with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government playing an advisory, legislative and policy-making role.
Responsible ministries/bodies
30 Fire Services
City and county council
Management of the COVID-19 pandemic
*As of 27 May 2020, the information provided below is correct.
Ireland confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on 29 February 2020. Within three weeks, the virus had spread to every county on the island. On 12 March 2020 the Irish government announced the closure of all schools, third-level institutions and childcare facilities[3]. In the following weeks almost all businesses, venues and amenities were shut, and all non-essential travel was prohibited. The elderly and medically vulnerable individuals were advised to cocoon[4]. The Irish government published a set of public health measures and stated it was essential that the public practice social distancing by maintaining a 2-metre distance from other people and avoid all physical contact. The information provided below details the ways in which the different levels of governance in Ireland are involved in the management of the crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Central
Department of Health
Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation
- Provide information and guidance to businesses impacted by COVID-19;
- Provision of government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses;
- A Restart Grant was introduced to alleviate pressure on micro and small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Provides information relating to COVID-19 to employers and employees;
- Provision of the following COVID-19-related payments:
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
- Introduction of tax relief measures to help support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) experiencing cash-flow and trading difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 crisis;
- Operation of the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.
An Garda Síochána
- On 13 March 2020, An Garda Síochána put measures in place to maximise its operational availability and support other vital public services[6];
- High visibility patrolling by Garda members to enforce the government's public health measures;
- To ensure public compliance with travel restrictions, Garda members have conducted various checkpoints on major roads;
- Continuation of community policing, seeking out vulnerable individuals, assisting them and making sure they do not feel alone.
Responsible ministries/bodies
Department of Health
Department of the Taoiseach
Health Service Executive (HSE)
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)
Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
An Garda Síochána
Regional
Údarás na Gaeltachta
- Issue advice and provide up-to-date information on the support available to Gaeltacht communities and businesses impacted by COVID-19[7];
- Additional COVID-19 business support funds have been approved to provide practical support to Gaeltacht businesses under pressure as a result of the COVID-19 crisis;
- The Online Trading Scheme is being used to support Gaeltacht businesses experiencing pressure due to COVID-19, enabling them to trade online[8];
- Tourism Experience Development Workshops have been organised to help the tourism industry in Gaeltacht areas.[9]
Regional Assemblies
The three regional assemblies published an analysis report on the impact of COVID-19 on Irish regions, identifying those geographical areas more likely to be exposed to economic disruption due to the necessary measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Responsible ministries/bodies Údarás
na Gaeltachta
Regional Assemblies
Local
- Provide information on support, funding and grants available to individuals and businesses impacted by COVID-19, e.g. the Restart Grant;
- In response to the government's Community Call initiative[9], local authorities set up Community Response Forums to assist the elderly and the most vulnerable with the following:
- Shopping for food, fuel and other essential household items;
- Transport to medical appointments;
- Delivery of hot meals through local meals on wheels services;
- Collection of prescribed medicines.
- City and county councils have implemented various measures in an effort to enforce the government's social distancing guidelines, for example:
- Closure of car parks and facilities at beaches and popular national parks, e.g. Glendalough;
- Closure of popular Dublin bathing points: Seapoint, the Forty Foot and Sandycove;
- Deployment of a Park Ranger Social Distancing Team to maintain social distancing in public amenity areas in Cork City.
Responsible ministries/bodies
City and county councils
Sources
Constitution
of Ireland – BUNREACHT NA hÉIREANN
Department of
Defence
Department of the Taoiseach
Department of Health
Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
Garda Síochána
Health Service Executive (HSE)
Irish Civil Defence
National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management
Northern and Western Regional Assembly
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Public Service Information – Citizens
Information
Southern Regional Assembly
The Irish Regions – Brussels Office Website
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)
Údarás na Gaeltachta
[1] The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning is the top-level structure which gives policy and direction, and which co-ordinates and oversees the emergency planning activities of all Government departments and public authorities.
[2] An Garda Síochána (also commonly referred to as the Gardaí) is the national police force. The name 'Garda Síochána' means 'guardians of peace' in English.
[3] https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2020-press-releases/12-march-2020-statement-from-the-department-of-education-and-skills.html
[4] "Cocooning is a measure to protect those over 70 years and those extremely medically vulnerable by minimising interaction between them and others. This means that those who are over 70 years and those extremely medically vulnerable should stay at home and within their homes should minimise all non-essential contact with other members of their household who are not cocooning themselves.", Department of Health, https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/923825-guidance-on-cocooning-to-protect-people-over-70-years-and-those-extr/#what-cocooning-is
[5] https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/472f64-covid-19-coronavirus-guidance-and-advice/
[7] Údarás na Gaeltachta Advisory and Supports Plan (accessed 27/05/2020)
[8] The Online Trading Scheme (accessed 27/05/2020)
[9] Salvaging the Gaeltacht Visitor Experience for Summer 2020 (accessed 27/05/2020)
[10] 'Community Call' initiative: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ba4e3d-covid-19-ireland-launches-the-community-call-in-major-nationwide-vol/ (accessed 27/05/2020)
