Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Deputy's interest in this specific area. He has had much interaction with me on it. Civil Defence is a volunteer-based organisation which supports the front-line emergency services. It operates in partnership between the Department of Defence and local authorities throughout Ireland. As Minister of State with responsibility for defence, one of my functions is to provide policy direction to Civil Defence. The White Paper on Defence, which charts the future development of Civil Defence, states that the primary role of Civil Defence is, as Deputy Burke outlined, to support the principal response agencies. Civil Defence supports An Garda Síochána, the HSE and the local authorities in a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations. The Department of Defence manages and develops Civil Defence at national level. The Civil Defence branch of the Department provides centralised training, administrative support and guidance and centralised procurement of major items of uniform and equipment in support of local authority Civil Defence efforts.

At local level, Civil Defence units are based in each local authority area under the operational control of the relevant local authority. These units operate on a day-to-day basis under the control of a Civil Defence officer, who is a full-time employee of the local authority. Civil Defence is a key element of each local authority's emergency response arrangements. Volunteers from Civil Defence have responded effectively when required over recent years, most recently during the flooding events that occurred in the latter part of 2015 and lasted well into 2016. Volunteer members of Civil Defence under the management of Civil Defence officers contributed significantly to the alleviation of hardship and supported their communities. I am aware that Westmeath Civil Defence and other units throughout the country were very active during this period.

Civil Defence units provide other critical supports to the principal response agencies on an ongoing basis. For example, Civil Defence volunteers frequently undertake search and rescue operations in support of An Garda Síochána. Civil Defence volunteers provide ongoing community supports in their local authority areas and contribute to the safe management of events that attract large crowds. Civil Defence volunteers deserve the support of the Department of Defence and the local authorities for which they respond. Civil Defence units in each county are generally funded on a 70-30 basis. Most of their funding comes through an annual grant from the Department of Defence, with the balance coming from the local authority. The provision of accommodation for local Civil Defence units is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. This long-standing position was reaffirmed in the 2015 White Paper on Defence.

I am aware of the situation regarding accommodation for Westmeath Civil Defence. I recently met a number of volunteers from Westmeath Civil Defence who outlined their concerns with the existing accommodation arrangements. I understand this matter has been raised at a meeting of Westmeath County Council. Along with Deputy Burke, who organised the meeting, and Councillor Tom Farrell, I met volunteers Tom Martin and Joe O'Reilly. I advised them that although accommodation for local Civil Defence units is a matter for each local authority, the Department of Defence will continue to work proactively with Westmeath County Council to encourage it to provide appropriate accommodation for its Civil Defence unit. Senior officials from the Department of Defence met senior officials from Westmeath County Council earlier this year. This was in keeping with the Department's efforts since the closure of Columb Barracks in 2012 to explore a number of avenues to try to secure the long-term future of the former barracks for the benefit of the local community. To date, Westmeath County Council has declined the option of availing of Columb Barracks for use, including by Civil Defence. Most recently, Westmeath County Council advised officials in the Department of Defence that it is conducting a review of the accommodation for Civil Defence in Westmeath. While the provision of accommodation is a matter for Westmeath County Council, departmental officials have offered to provide any advice required by the council in developing its outline plan for accommodation for Westmeath Civil Defence.

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