Ms Aileen Nolan:

We will go back to the start of those questions and work our way through them. Deputy Stanton asked about the gender, age and diversity breakdown in the Civil Defence. We replied in writing the last time following our last appearance before the committee. We do not actually have the exact statistics until the VEMS goes live. Regarding gender breakdown, we sampled 100 volunteers and the results showed that 57% were male and 43% were female among our volunteers. In terms of our Civil Defence officers, 12 of 47, or 25%, of Civil Defence officers and assistant civil defence officers are female. At volunteer level, it is 43% female and at Civil Defence officer level it is 25%.

In terms of the age profile of volunteers, based again on the sample we had to use, 11% of volunteers were under 30 years old; 38% were aged between 30 and 40; 20% were between 40 and 50; 15% were between 50 and 60; and 16% were 60+. The majority of the volunteers are in that middle group between 30 and 50 and make up 58%. Then there are 30% over 50. That is how the numbers break down age-wise. In terms of the diversity breakdown, we do not record that information so we do not have that breakdown at the moment. I know from talking to Civil Defence officers, and Mr. Conroy may want to come in here, there is definitely a lot of diversity at volunteer level.