Civil Defence to receive funding for new vehicles

The Civil Defence, the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) are among the organisations who will share €650,000, it was announced this morning.

Sail Training Ireland will also receive a grant, which from the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Simon Coveney, TD, Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the €650,000 will towards three projects under the aegis of the Department of Defence.

€200,000 will be provided towards the provision of services by ONE and IUNVA to former members of the Defence Forces, and €400,000 has been allocated to upgrade vehicles in the Civil Defence fleet.

Sail Training Ireland will receive €50,000 under the Action Plan in 2023.

Minister Coveney said: “I recognise the important public service that has been given to the state by Civil Defence and by retired members of the Defence Forces and it was in this context that I sought additional funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan.”

The minister acknowledged the projects that have already been facilitated by Dormant Accounts funding, including IUNVA’s National Museum, which was officially opened in September 2021, and ONE’s Veterans Support Centre and hostel in Cobh, which he officially opened in October 2021.

“The main purpose of the Civil Defence vehicles would be to assist in severe weather events and missing person searches – however this allocation also acknowledges the outstanding commitment Civil Defence volunteers gave throughout the Covid-19 crisis and more recently in assisting the effort to accommodate Ukrainian people seeking refuge in Ireland.”

Since March of this year volunteers across the country have helped to set up and operate temporary rest centres and to transport Ukrainians to and from their accommodation and to meetings for school registration and medical appointments.

For many years the state operated a national sail training scheme through Coiste an Asgard, but it was wound up following the loss of the national sail training vessel the Asgard II in 2008. Sail Training Ireland was established by some of those previously involved with the Asgard.

Sail training is about personal development and not just about learning to sail, and the government has agreed to provide funding to Sail Training Ireland to allow young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in sail training.

Provision of this money from the Dormant Accounts Fund will be subject to compliance with a performance delivery agreement.

Minister Coveney said: “My officials and I have seen first-hand the valuable projects that previous funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund has facilitated. These additional funds will help to facilitate further such projects that will ultimately make a valuable difference to people’s lives.”

The minister concluded by offering his thanks to Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State, Joe O’Brien, TD.

The Department of Rural and Community Development oversees the administrative framework within which departments may apply for funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Colm Campbell, chairperson of the board of directors of ONE, welcomed the announcement of the funding and said it will be used to expand and further develop ONE’s homes for homeless veterans.