About the Civil Defence

Civil Defence is a volunteer based organization that supports the front line emergency services. We also assist our local communities. Civil Defence has 3,500 volunteer members throughout Ireland. We have volunteers trained in each of the following services:

We support the frontline emergency services in dealing with severe weather, flooding, major accidents and searching for missing people. Civil Defence supports hundreds of community events throughout the year. These include large events such as air shows, tall ships, concerts and festivals, sports events. We also support smaller local events such as parades.

Civil Defence operates under legislation that includes the Air Raid Precautions Act 1939/1946, Local Government Acts of 1941 to 2001, various Statutory Instruments and the Civil Defence Act 2002/2012. Under the Civil Defence Act 2002 a State Authority known as the Civil Defence Board was established to manage and develop Civil Defence at national level. In 2013 the Civil Defence Board was dissolved in accordance with the Civil Defence Act 2012 and it’s functions were transferred back to the Minister for Defence.

Joining Civil Defence

Volunteers join Civil Defence through their local authority. Initial training is delivered locally. Advanced training takes place at the Civil Defence College in Roscrea, Co Tipperary. Civil Defence Units are located in each county in the Republic of Ireland. To request information on becoming a Civil Defence volunteer, or have a member of Civil Defence contact you, please CLICK HERE.