Billy Timmins
Ceist:154 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the organisation of the Civil Defence; the strength of the organisation; and number of full-time members and volunteers. [22996/98]
Written Answers. - Civil Defence Force.
Civil Defence operates under the Air Raid Precautions Acts, 1939 and 1946, and the Local Government Acts, 1941, 1955, 1960, 1963 and 1976. Responsibility for the co-ordination of policy, planning and organisation for Civil Defence is delegated by the Minister for Defence to the Minister of State at the Department of Defence.
The main elements of the organisation are the Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence, which includes the Civil Defence School, and 32 local authority units under the managment of the county-city manager. The day to day operation of civil defence at local level is carried out by the Civil Defence officer.
The functions of the Civil Defence branch include control of expenditure and the provision of Civil Defence equipment for use by local authorities. The Civil Defence school provides technical advice on civil defence matters and provides training for the qualification and validation of instructors.
The Civil Defence organisation was established initially to protect the civilian population from the hazards of war, in particular atomic-nuclear war, but is now principally involved in a community support role. It is organised on a county basis with volunteers recruited locally for the following services, warden, rescue, casualty, welfare and auxiliary fire service. The tendency nowadays is for a multi-disciplined service.
There are approximately 6,000 active volunteers in the organisation with a further 3,000-4,000 trained persons not active but available in a major emergency situation. The volunteers are under the control and management of 23 full-time and eight part-time Civil Defence officers assisted by ten assistant Civil Defence officers, all of whom are employees of the local authorities.