AIE request AIE-14-01-2024
Under the AIE Regs to request the agendas, minutes and any related meeting presentations or reports provided to or by the following Groups within Met Eireann:
-National Flood Forecasting & Warning Service Steering Group
-Communications Working Group (CWG)
-Comms Technical Sub-Group
Background
In January 2016, the Government agreed to establish a National Flood Forecast Warning Service (NFFWS). International experience shows that developing a NFFWS is an iterative process over an extended timeframe and it was decided to develop the NFFWS in a staged basis.
A Steering Group, chaired by the OPW and comprising representatives from Met Éireann, the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and the Department
of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, was established to steer, support and oversee the establishment of the new service over the initial establishment years.
Phase I – the establishment phase of the Service, is completed and a Flood Forecasting Centre is now operational within Met Éireann in their offices at Glasnevin, in Dublin. The Steering Group for the NFFWS is working on Stage II of the development of the NFFWS to enhance and extend the Service.
The Communications Working Group did not meet during the period in question and there were no records
“Comms Technical Sub-Group.” No such Sub-Group has been established in respect of the development of the NFFWS. In this regard, there were no records identified relevant to your request.
In relation to the National Flood Forecasting & Warning Service Steering Group I have identified a significant number of records in relation to agendas, minutes and related meeting presentations or reports provided to or by the Group
The work of the National Flood Forecasting & Warning Service Steering Group is on guiding, supporting and overseeing the establishment and development of the National Flood Forecasting & Warning Service.
The Service is not designed to protect the environment.
The Service does not affect nor is it likely to affect, the environment.
The records do not relate to the elements, or state of the elements, of the environment or releases into the environment or the state of human health and safety.
I have concluded that the information requested and contained in the records in relation to the National Flood Forecasting & Warning Service Steering Group does not comprise information that satisfies the definition of environmental information set out in Regulation 3(1) paragraphs (a) to (f). Having regard to the foregoing, your request for information under the AIE Regulations on the National Flood Forecasting & Warning Service Steering Group is refused.
