Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Defence is responsible for Civil Defence policy with up to 70% of the cost of funding Civil Defence. The Department provides training for volunteers instructors and supplies equipment, vehicles, uniforms and PPE for Civil Defence volunteers. Civil Defence volunteers undertook 9,500 tasks during the pandemic, including transporting people to medical appointments, testing and vaccination centres and delivering food and medication. Civil Defence was extraordinary during Storm Ophelia and Storm Emma and later during Covid.

Civil Defence provides five core services, including emergency response, search and rescue, medical response, community assistance and a radiation monitoring service. It was established in 1951 and is a volunteer organisation that supports emergency services in local communities. It has 3,500 members trained to provide a range of services. Civil Defence volunteers around the country do incredible work. I am delighted that the Minister for Defence is funding it and providing equipment for it but we must acknowledge the volunteers who do the work and go out in all kinds of conditions to help people. It includes the air ambulance service and the Blood Bikes that travel around the country. Civil Defence covers everything in our areas. It goes across the water and carry out peacekeeping missions as well. A lot of work is done by Civil Defence for which we are eternally grateful.

I come back to the fact that they are volunteers. Ireland is known for its volunteers. No matter what happens, people such as those in Civil Defence come out and put their shoulder to the wheel and make sure that no matter what event takes place, be it for the wrong or right reasons, it is there to help. Civil Defence is broad-based with a central command. I commend anything that will help our Civil Defence. I commend any recommendations to help and fund Civil Defence and help and reward our volunteers for their excellent work.

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