Sorca Clarke
Question:1017. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the engagement that he and his Department have had with Longford County Council regarding a permanent base for the Civil Defence in the county. [40879/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 July 2022
Questions (1017)
Written answers
The Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence is charged with the management and development of Civil Defence at national level. The Civil Defence Branch provides policy direction, centralised training through the Civil Defence College, administrative support and guidance and centralised procurement of major items of uniform and equipment in support of local authority Civil Defence efforts.
Civil Defence is funded by way of a grant from the Defence Vote. Funding for Civil Defence operations at local level is shared on a 70/30 basis between the Department of Defence and local authorities by way of an annual grant to each authority.
It is the responsibility of each local authority to provide suitable accommodation for their local Civil Defence Unit. This is set out in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. While the provision of accommodation is the responsibility of the local authority, the Department of Defence has provided a contribution to support local authority efforts in providing new or upgraded accommodation for Civil Defence. For example in recent years the Department has provided some funding to support projects undertaken by Clare, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary and Westmeath County Councils.
The Department of Defence has not received any approach from Longford County Council in respect of such funding. My officials are available to meet with the Council to discuss any proposals they have for providing improved accommodation for Longford Civil Defence.