CLARE Civil Defence Unit’s emergency response capability will be enhanced when two new four-wheel drive vehicles are added to its fleet.
The Defence Minister Paul Kehoe has allocated 32 new Ford Ranger crew cabs to the Civil Defence as part of the Government’s ongoing investment in the organisation and two have been earmarked for Clare.
“Throughout our response to Covid-19, our Civil Defence and other volunteer agencies played a vital role in their respective communities. From transporting patients to hospitals, nursing homes and testing centres in Clare to the collection of medications and medical equipment – we are rightly proud of our Civil Defence volunteers,” commented Fine Gael TD Joe Carey.
He added, “I welcome that the Government is continuing to invest resources in Civil Defence, in this instance through the provision of vehicles. These new vehicles will be an additional resource for those who give their time and work so hard in times of emergency.
“This will further enhance the Civil Defence fleet and ensure the organisation and its volunteers can continue to support the principal response agencies of An Garda Síochána, the HSE and local authorities.”
The announcement follows the Department of Defence applying for and being awarded €1 million in funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund. The 32 vehicles are Ford Ranger crew cabs and are being supplied through an Office of Government Procurement contract.
The new vehicles will be an additional resource for all types of Civil Defence operations such as severe weather events and missing person searches.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.