Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2010
48 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence the role played by the Reserve Defence Forces in radiological monitoring over the past five years; if he intends to enhance this role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23347/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraA National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents (NEPNA) has been in place since 1992. In 1998, the Government decided to improve the NEPNA by enhancing the speed and quality of decision making by committees in the event and immediate aftermath of a nuclear accident. This plan provides a framework for the national response to a large scale nuclear accident.
A Service Level Agreement (SLA) exists between the Defence Forces, the Department of Defence, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The role of the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence in the NEPNA is coordinated through the Emergency Response Coordinating Committee (ERCC). The Reserve Defence Forces, as a constituent part of the Defence Forces, have been assigned the role of radiological monitoring for the Defence Forces.
In order to fulfil the radiological monitoring roles assigned to the RDF, the Radiological Monitoring Section of the Directorate of the Reserve Defence Forces coordinates, maintains and trains qualified personnel in twenty seven (27) specified locations nationwide. These personnel are responsible for all monitoring equipment held by them in these locations. A specific training syllabus provides for the instruction of RDF personnel in radiological monitoring.
Radiological and Meteorological Monitoring Exercises (RadMon) are conducted annually and all recordings are submitted to the RPII and to the Directorate of Operations, Defence Forces Headquarters. The Radiological Monitoring Section, located at Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, is responsible for initiating, controlling and reporting on each exercise conducted. RadMon exercises are designed to practice staff involved in the collection and correlating of material and data gathered.
Exercises have been conducted annually since the inception of the NEPNA. It is envisaged that a RadMon exercise will be conducted in the second half of 2010. In addition to these annual exercises, training has been and continues to be conducted by staff of Directorate of the Reserve Defence Forces in order to ensure a suitable pool of qualified personnel is available at all times. There are no plans to change the role of the RDF in relation to radiological monitoring.
