asked the Minister for Defence the current numerical strength of the Civil Defence; its total expenditure for the year 1985 to 1987 inclusive; if he has satisfied himself that sufficient resources are available to enable the Civil Defence to carry out its mandate in the event of nuclear fallout and disasters such as flooding, fires and travel accidents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Defence.
31.
(Limerick West): According to the returns furnished to my Department in 1986 there are 40,427 members on the Civil Defence rolls of local authorities. About 21,500 are active members.
The total State expenditure on Civil Defence is made up of the expenditure from the Defence Vote plus expenditure by local authorities. The total expenditure for the years 1985 to 1987 inclusive is as follows——
|
Year |
Total Expenditure |
|
£ |
|
|
1985 |
3,006,000 |
|
1986 |
2,512,000 |
|
1987 |
2,308,000 (estimated) |
The higher expenditures of 1985 and 1986 were incurred in the context of phasing in a change in a manner of payment of grant to local authorities from reimbursement on a year in arrear basis to payment on a current year basis.
Civil Defence provides, among other things, a warning and monitoring network as a protective measure against the hazard of radioactive fallout in wartime. This network consists of Department of Defence personnel, the Army Observer Corps, elements of the Garda Síochána, the Meteorological Service, Irish Lights, RTE, certain local authority personnel and volunteer personnel of the Civil Defence warden service. It includes radiation-protected national, regional and county control centres with communication links and a broadcasting facility from the national control. Its equipment includes radiation measurement instruments. The network is tested once a year through national fall-out exercises and has performed well in these tests. The next exercise will be held on Sunday, 1 November and will include a television broadcast on RTE.
Arrangements exist also for advising the public on shelter and on other steps necessary for survival in a fallout situation.
With regard to the risk of fallout arising from nuclear accident, new monitoring instruments which would give readings down to background level have been acquired for Civil Defence personnel who would assist the Department of Energy in the monitoring of such radiation and in related matters such as decontamination.
Civil Defence also incorporates a casualty service, welfare service, rescue service and auxiliary fire service which are equipped to assist the front line services in disasters.
I am satisfied that the arrangements in place would serve to mitigate substantially the effects of war or other disaster generally.
I, like all Members of the House, have a great admiration for the Civil Defence. However, since I became Opposition spokesman on Defence I have been approached by a great number of civic minded people who told me that they are very upset about the funding for the Civil Defence. In regard to the figure of 40,427——
I am anxious to assist the Deputy in eliciting information but he must proceed by way of questions.
Is the Minister sure that the figure of 21,500 is correct because my information is that there are far fewer members for a variety of reasons, principally because the resources are not there? Civil Defence members are demoralised. I should like the Minister to give an undertaking, based on his own admission of the falling off of finances over the last three years, that he will quickly rectify the situation as the Civil Defence has been reduced to a skeleton. The public should be made aware of the fact that a supposed service is not——
I am sorry, you cannot proceed by way of speech making.
(Limerick West): I do not agree with the Deputy that the Civil Defence has been run down because the provision of equipment for the various services is an ongoing process. This year, for example, a second lot of new, low level radiation meters is being purchased, together with newly designed mobile welfare trailers, each containing an inflatable tank generator, a water storage facility and basic cooking equipment. Three new personnel and equipment vehicles have been acquired and three fire appliances will also be purchased to replace worn out personnel and equipment vehicles. The old Green Godess fire appliances will be replaced. Components for new first aid kits are on order as a modern facility. Modern machines are also on order for installation in county and regional control centres and a second instalment of modern, hand portable UHF radio telephones with some mobile units for training will be operational at county level. In 1988 it is also proposed to purchase further low level radiation meters to complete the programme requirement for the warden service and the peace time Civil Defence plan. A number of new personnel and equipment vehicles will also be purchased to replace worn out vehicles. Further hand portable and mobile radio telephones will be acquired, together with modern PABX telephone systems, to substantially complete the communications modernisation programme. Therefore, there is no indication of a run-down of Civil Defence as far as my Department are concerned.
What method is now being developed by Civil Defence and the Minister's Department to recruit more members? What is the state of the organisation locally, where it matters most?
(Limerick West): The recruitment of personnel to Civil Defence is ongoing and the Civil Defence officer in my Department is constantly in touch with local authorities. I am satisfied, from speaking with him, that the organisation is very healthy all around the country.
Is it true that vast areas of the country do not have an active Civil Defence unit?
(Limerick West): I am not so aware.