asked the Minister for Defence the outcome of the examination by his Department of public buildings with a view to the provision of civil defence shelters for civil servants and members of the public; and, in particular, the location and accommodation of such shelters in Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Defence Shelters.
46.
The pilot survey referred to in my reply to the Deputy's previous question on 16th June, 1965, has indicated that, in general, large buildings have a potential use as radioactive fall-out shelters.
It will be appreciated, however, that the selection, adaptation, equipping, control and administration of shelters of this kind on a large scale would be costly and would need a considerable staff. The main value of the pilot survey is that it justifies further study of the shelter potential of large buildings and of the various ancillary problems. Because of the cost and other factors involved, it is not possible to say whether or not such shelters will be a feasible proposition. Meanwhile the public should rely on the measures advised in the Civil Defence home protection booklet.
Arising out of the Minister's reply and the exhortations from the Minister and the Government to private persons to bear the cost of providing home protection, would the Minister ensure that the Government are not lacking in taking the necessary steps to provide protection, particularly as in the event of a sudden radioactive fallout, tens of thousands of people in this city will be unable to reach their homes before the real danger commences? On that account there is a very strict responsibility on the Government to give this priority so that there will not be tens of thousands of people doomed in the streets of this city.
The Deputy must know that the obligation is on the individual to protect himself in such an eventuality. If we do not get the full co-operation of every householder to protect his own house in the first instance, a very large number of people could be seriously affected in the event of radioactive fallout. If it should come as quickly as the Deputy thinks——
It could.
——there would not be time to get into any shelter. However, it is generally believed that there would be some advance warning of the approach of fallout which should enable people to get to shelter.
Is the Department of Defence aware that even in a normal evening when there would not be a rush home because of radioactive fall-out, it could take people an hour and a half or two hours to get to their homes in the suburbs? Does he really think that tens of thousands of people in this city are not going to be stranded on the way home in the event of radioactive fallout when the streets of the city would be choking, when the Department are not providing any shelter at all.