Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their presentation and ongoing efforts. I have a question on the recruitment of volunteers. In what way is admission to the Civil Defence advertised or how is it encouraged? Is it done directly by the local authorities or through a national advertising campaign? In the board's new format with, presumably, some degree of new thinking coming into the equation, would it be possible to encourage more young people by way of a "junior civil defence" - there may be a better name than that? Not just at this committee, but at numerous Oireachtas committees, we have debated the need to encourage more young people and in particular people from disadvantaged communities, to become more engaged in their communities by way of volunteer work. While it would not be any type of national service, the concept of the Civil Defence organisation and the responsibility that comes with it would be of enormous benefit to young people. Perhaps some consideration could be given to some kind of civil defence junior corps comprising people of leaving certificate age. How, where and when does recruitment occur?