Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State with responsibility for defence, Deputy Paul Kehoe, for taking this Topical Issue matter. Some weeks ago, I met the Minister of State and a number of the volunteers along with councillors Tom Farrell, Tony Martin and Joe Reilly, who are commanders in the Westmeath Civil Defence. This issue is urgent. It is about the relocation of the headquarters of the Civil Defence in County Westmeath. Currently, the Civil Defence operates in a condemned building. Serious health and safety risks are posed by this situation. Insulation is falling from the ceiling. Plasterboard has collapsed in one room. Buckets of water are on the floor collecting water day after day. The place is infested with rats. Thousands of euro of medical equipment, such as ECG machines, are lying in damp conditions and are at serious risk.

The Civil Defence is the first responder in many instances. During the serious flooding last year, the people in Westmeath saw the thousands of voluntary hours administered by the Civil Defence personnel in their role as key responders. They often complement the serious stretched emergency services and they do a fine job at that. It is often said that those who can, do, and those who can do more, volunteer.

As a public representative in Longford-Westmeath I cannot stand over the current conditions that the Civil Defence personnel operate in. I will not accept it. I want to make this clear to the Minister of State. I know he has a special interest in the Civil Defence and that he has done great work nationally in the area to communicate with Westmeath County Council. This issue has been going on since 2007. I cannot tolerate going back to Mullingar or Westmeath and seeing this continue.

Volunteers cannot attend courses because the areas and headquarters are not suitable. They do not even have basic running water at the facility. We need an integrated facility with a garage and stores. As we are all aware, large significant equipment such as boats and ambulances are needed to provide this service to the community. The local authority sector is the first sector to call on the Civil Defence when they need support and when instances arise.

My colleague, Councillor Andrew Duncan, in Mullingar put forward a motion to Westmeath County Council at the November meeting calling on the council to put a clear plan in place immediately to relocate the headquarters of the Civil Defence. I know several options are on the table. These need to be explored urgently. I will not tolerate a date past January. We need to have a clear plan in place. We have to treat volunteers with dignity and respect. We cannot allow them to continue in a condemned facility. The facility has been condemned by the health and safety officer of Westmeath County Council. I know the Minister of State has communicated with the Minster for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, calling on him to put pressure on the local authority to ensure alternative premises are secured. It is important that we work together. I know the Minister will do his best. I appeal to the Minister of State to ensure a safety facility for the volunteers to allow them to discharge their service.

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