Update on Return to Central Civil Defence Training

17 August 2020

In March as a result of the onset of COVID-19 in Ireland, the Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence cancelled all central Civil Defence training. This was in the interests of protecting everyone involved in the training. As indicated in recent months, central Civil Defence training will resume in September 2020. However clearly this is dependent on the COVID-19 situation in the coming weeks.

The resumption will commence with the certification of approximately 70 EFR responders from ten Local Authority Civil Defence Units. Following that in the region of 100 – 150 instructors across CFR, FAR and EFR will be re-certified before the expiry of their current certificates. New PHECC Responder Instructors will be certified as soon as possible.

Instructor certification and recertification in other disciplines is currently being planned and CDOs will be notified as soon as final details have been confirmed.

In addition, drone pilots will commence being re-certified from mid-September 2020 onwards.

The Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence will have to deliver training differently and with additional COVID-19 safety measures in the same way as Local Authority Civil Defence Units have in recent weeks and months. A priority of the Department in undertaking this training will be the safety and protection of all Civil Defence volunteers and staff.

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