1. Role of Civil Defence
Civil Defence (Cosaint Shibhialta) is a statutory volunteer based organisation with a natiowide in every Local Authority area, established in 1951, In central Government terms, responsibility for the organisation falls under the aegis of the Department of Defence. Nationally Civil Defence is managed by 35 Local Authority Civil Defence Officers and assisted by Assistant Civil Defence Officers are also operational in nearly all Local Authority areas in recent years.The Civil Defence Organisation is dependent on the availability of Volunteers giving of their time and experience nationally with a membership of 2500 across every local Authority area.
Civil Defence Officers also work together in a region for various operations . In our region in the midlands we in Offaly work with our colleagues in Laois, Westmeath and Longford Civil Defence units. Volunteering within Civil Defence demonstrates the very best of Irish society and the Government is concious of and grateful for the work that Civil Defence volunteers undertake on a weekly basis. As set out in the 2015 Government White Paper on Defence the volunteer ethos of Civil Defence is a hallmark of great pride and one which the Government wishes to cherish and support into the future. The Government’s continued commitment to the developnment of Civil Defence is confirmed in the White Paper.
The White Paper also states that the future of Civil Defence will continue to be developed around its central strategic objective of supporting the Principal Response Agencies in a variety of emergency and non emergency situations into the future. Civil Defence has a very positive relationship with the Principal Response Agencies. Emergency support is provided as required and where possible to the agencies and in that context Civil Defence has a very clear role in the Framework for Major Emergency Management.In addition over the years Civil Defence Volunteers have been utilised in a variety of Community support roles at level. Where resourses permit and with the agreement of the Local Authority Civil Defence will Continue to support appropiate community events.