Civil Defence

Civil Defence Mission 

“To support the emergency services and to provide community support by promoting, developing and maintaining Civil Defence as an effective volunteer based organisation”.

Donegal Civil Defence currently provides community support to some 70 + community events annually, as well as acting as a multi-skilled 2nd line service to the main emergency services of the Fire Service, Local Authority, An Gárda Síochana, North Western Health Board & Irish Coast Guard.

Currently Donegal Civil Defence is pro-active in the following area of community emergency support;

Major Emergency Planning training within the county on a shared basis with other relevant sectors of the Local Authority, Fire Service, An Gárda Síochana, North Western Health Board, Irish Coast Guard and other relevant voluntary agencies.

Services: Civil Defence assists the local community in the following areas;

  • First Aid / Casualty
  • Search and Rescue
  • Auxiliary Fire Fighting
  • Kayaking/ Boating Techniques
  • Radiation Monitoring
  • Radio Communications
  • Welfare Provision
  • Blizzard Conditions
  • Gorse Fires Flooding
  • Traffic Control
  • Crowd Control Stewarding

Funding
Civil Defence is 70% funded by the Department of Defence and 30% funded by the Local Authority.


Active Voluntary Membership

National Membership - 3,500
Donegal - 109


Management
The Local Authority is responsible for delivering Civil Defence services at a local level under the Directorship of the Water, Environment and Emergency Services, Mr. Jim Holohan. The Civil Defence Officer, Ms Edel Wilson, the only salaried official of Civil Defence, manages Civil Defence on a daily basis. Civil Defence is organised on an electoral area basis with relevant Commanders appointed as follows:


Commander Electoral Area
Danny Coyle County Donegal
Columba Gallagher Inishowen
Paddy O'Flanagan Letterkenny
Cathal Carr  Milford
Paddy Herron  Glenties
John Quinn &
Packie Bonner		 Stranorlar
Kathleen Callaghan Donegal


Donegal Civil Defence volunteers assists the statutory services on occasions where exceptional events or large crowds occur. Some examples are as follows:

Non Emergency Events

Providing stewarding / first aid cover at major public events. 74 such events were covered in 2005, at which 5,328 man-hours of voluntary time were provided. The highlights of 2005 was the association with the

  • Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann
  • All Blacks, New Zealand arrivla in Ramelton
  • Buddy Bear Charity Appeal, Raphoe
  • Donegal International Rally
  • Community Festivals
  • FAI Football Matches

Emergency Events

  • Supporting Gardaí and others in search and recovery missions. In 2005 Civil Defence assisted the Gardaí and PSNI in the cross border search for missing Burt man, Adrian Magee.
  • Training Classes is weekly in following areas around the county:
    • Letterkenny - First Aid, Rescue, Boating, Radio, Welfare, Foot Drill, Auxiliary Fire Fighting, Kayaking
    • Carrigart - Auxiliary Fire Fighting, First Aid
    • Killygordon - First Aid
    • Donegal Town - First Aid
    • Ardara - Casualty
    • Carndonagh – Auxiliary Fire Fighting
    • Dungloe – First Aid

Major items of equipment available for use:

Item  Number
16 Seater Minibuses 2
Inflatable Boat  2
Crew Cabs  2
Inflatable Boats 2
Ambulance 2
Kayak Trailer 1
Rescue Trailer 1
Fire Tender 1
Utility Vehicle 1
Generator  1



Further Information:

Donegal Civil Defence control centre is situated on the
Pearse Road,
Letterkenny,
Co. Donegal

Tel: 074 91 22315
Fax: 074 91 25712
email: ewilson@donegalcoco.ie
Office Hours 09.00hrs -16.30hrs daily