asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the total number of (a) instructors, and (b) persons, ascertained and known to be trained and available for civil defence and A.R.P. duties in case of emergency in each of the cities of (i) Dublin (ii) Cork (iii) Limerick (iv) Galway and (v) Waterford.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Defence Personnel.
Major de Valera
The numbers of instructors trained at the Department of Defence A.R.P. school during the last emergency for the Cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford were:—
|
Dublin |
613 |
|
Cork |
29 |
|
Limerick |
16 |
|
Waterford |
11 |
The maximum strengths of the A.R.P. services in these areas during the period 1939 to 1945 were:—
|
Dublin |
7,929 |
|
Cork |
1,891 |
|
Limerick |
969 |
|
Waterford |
756 |
Separate figures for Galway City are not available as it was included in the A.R.P. scheme for County Galway. The figures for County Galway were:—
|
Instructors trained at Department of De- fence A.R.P. school |
None |
|
Maximum strengths of A.R.P. services |
142 |
It is believed that a large proportion of the trained personnel is still available. It has been indicated to city and county managers that the position as to the availability of trained personnel in their areas should be examined.
Major de Valera
Am I to take it that the Department has no idea of what the present position is and can only go back to the situation of five years ago?
Not entirely. The city and county managers, as I have stated in my reply, have been asked to report in respect of their own areas what men who were in the A.R.P. services during the last emergency are still available.
Major de Valera
When does the Minister expect to have information upon which he could give a definite answer to this question?
In the next war.
I could not say exactly. It was at the beginning of January or the end of December that the managers were asked to supply the information.
Major de Valera
And it is now the 1st of March.
Major de Valera
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the total number of (a) military personnel and (b) civilian personnel in his Department allotted to and at present engaged upon the preparation of plans and proposals for civil defence in the event of an emergency and the total of such personnel allotted for civil defence organisation and administration generally.
Responsibility for the organisation of civil defence has not been allotted to military personnel. No such staff is accordingly engaged whole time on such duty. The advice and assistance of the military branches of the Department are, however, afforded as and when required in fields in which they have special capabilities.
Eight civilian officers of the Department are at present engaged on the preparation of plans and proposals for civil defence, including a deputy assistant secretary, a principal officer, an assistant principal officer and two technical officers.
Proposals for additional administrative and technical staff are at present under consideration.
Major de Valera
Am I to take it that the whole question of civil defence in Ireland at the moment is catered for by a staff of only eight persons?
That is entirely wrong. It is a misrepresentation of what I said. I said that that was the amount of staff at present in the Department of Defence. If we are to talk about the whole staff, naturally one must consider the staffs of the local authorities.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware, or is he not aware that no local authority staffs are on this particular work at the present moment—none whatsoever—and that the only step which has been taken so far has been the insertion of an advertisement in the newspapers to see if an individual could be obtained to be the head officer for all local authorities?
I do not agree with that either.
That is a separate question.
It is an awkward question.
Civil defence officers have been appointed in many areas. The service itself is, in the main, a voluntary service and civil defence officers to administer the A.R.P. services have been appointed in many counties.
Where?
Major de Valera
Eight persons at headquarters and appointments in a few countries.