asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures if he will state in respect of Dublin City and Dun Laoghaire Borough (1) the numbers of trained persons authoritatively appointed to and engaged in each of the various branches of air-raid precautions activities; (2) whether any limit has been set to the number of volunteers to be accepted into any or all of the various branches, and, if so, on what basis and for what reasons; and (3) what will be the duties and the status of the "auxiliary wardens" who are now being enrolled.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emergency Services.
1.—The following are the establishments for the various services for the air-raid precautions scheme in Dublin City:—4,500 wardens, 1,500 for first aid, 760 for fire-fighting, 600 for rescue, 130 for decontamination, 1,700 for emergency communications.
The numbers trained and appointed to the services are as follows:—Wardens, 3,760; first aid, 1,500; fire-fighting, 300; rescue, 350; decontamination, 130; emergency communications, 1,470.
The establishments for Dun Laoghaire Borough are:—325 wardens, 120 for first aid, 150 for fire-fighting, 40 for rescue, 36 for decontamination, 200 for emergency communications. The requirements have been trained and appointed except in the case of emergency communications, for which only 60 have so far been appointed.
2.—The limit to the numbers to be appointed has been fixed at the establishments. These establishments provide for ample reserves. There are very few sectors in which the establishment for any service has been exceeded. In these cases the volunteers received training and provide for extra reserves. It is not proposed to appoint volunteers in excess of requirements. In any case the equipment for them would be expensive and difficult to obtain.
3.—There are no such things as auxiliary wardens.
Mr. Byrne
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, at the moment, wardens are being instructed to enrol persons anxious to act as auxiliary wardens, and that there is a great deal of ambiguity as to what their status will be?
I have pointed out to the Deputy that there are no such things as auxiliary wardens. In very few places has the established figure been exceeded. Where it is exceeded in any particular place, the extra members are fully trained as a reserve of wardens, but we cannot equip them fully.