Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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167. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update as of July 2025 on the implementation of the “Civil Defence–Towards 2030” policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38365/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Civil Defence-Towards 2030 Policy document was published in 2020 and set out the 10-year strategy for Civil Defence. The document re-confirmed the central strategic objective for Civil Defence - to support the Principal Response Agencies in a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations. The document also reconfirmed the five core services to be provided by Civil Defence, including the above mentioned emergency response (including support in adverse weather events and other situations), search and rescue, medical response, community assistance and radiation monitoring.

Each Local Authority has responsibility for the day to day operations of Civil Defence within their respective Local Authority, for provision of appropriate accommodation, for ensuring that Civil Defence is represented on relevant crisis response teams, and for ensuring that volunteers are recruited to build capacity. My Department's focus is on working with local authorities to ensure Civil Defence units across the State can deliver the core services.

My Department also continues to provide Central Training, with a current focus on building our Welfare response across the country (including catering and rest centre capability) and flood response. In these matters, my Department has worked with the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, to update and confirm the role for Civil Defence within the Emergency Management structure.