Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

While the recruitment of Civil Defence members is a local authority function, the Civil Defence Board both encourages and supports local authorities (through their Civil Defence Officers) to undertake recruitment campaigns. These local recruitment campaigns are targeted towards the Autumn, to coincide with the commencement of the training year. The Board supports these recruitment initiatives through the provision of additional publicity material and media training for Civil Defence Officers which helps to enhance the image of the Civil Defence organisation at local level.

In the Civil Defence Board's Strategic Plan, which covers the period 2007-2010, and which was launched by the Minister for Defence, Mr. Willie O'Dea, T.D., in September of this year, the Board identified the recruitment of new members as one of their main strategic objectives for the organisation. The Board will strive to meet that objective by using the following strategies:

Development of a strategic approach to recruitment

Marketing of Civil Defence as a multi-disciplined national emergency response agency

Encouragement of Local Authorities to become more proactive in developing Civil Defence within each local authority area

Present indications are very positive, with some counties reporting significant increases in new membership this year. The Civil Defence Board proposes to continue its support for local recruitment initiatives for the duration of the Strategic Plan.