asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that Civil Defence resources are adequate to deal with the consequences of a nuclear attack.

Dún Laoghaire): There are so many uncertain factors in relation to nuclear warfare and its consequences would be so diverse and catastrophic that no one could regard any amount of resources as adequate to deal with the threat of nuclear attack. Indeed, at or near a point of attack there is virtually no prospect of protection against the effects of nuclear weapons.

The primary response to this worldwide threat must be action directed towards eliminating the risk that nuclear weapons will ever be used deliberately or otherwise. In that regard successive Irish Governments have voiced their concern at the dangers inherent in the continued growth of nuclear armaments. They have consistently pursued efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and to secure agreement on measures designed to reduce their number with a view to their eventual elimination.

Successive Governments have also seen the need to maintain a Civil Defence organisation for the purpose of mitigating the effects of any likely form of wartime threat on the civilian population. It is considered that the most likely form of hazard is not direct attack on this country but radioactive fall-out caused by nuclear explosives elsewhere. Civil Defence arrangements exist for warning the population, predicting and monitoring fall-out and advising the public regarding the steps necessary to survive.

Exactly what resources are provided for this purpose? While accepting that the Government are taking what steps they can to avoid such a catastrophe, would the Minister of State not agree that all possible steps must, nonetheless, be taken to alleviate the consequences of any such attack? In particular, how much money is spent for this purpose, how many staff are employed in dealing with it in the Department and does any liaison exist between the Departments of Defence, Health, Communications and Energy to deal with the consequences of such an attack, should it come? We might be on the fringes of it, but it would have dire consequences for large sections of our population.

That is quite a long question, Deputy.

It is rather a long question, but this is a diverse subject.

(Dún Laoghaire): Civil Defence planning does not rule out the possibility of direct nuclear strikes in this country. However, these are regarded as a possibility rather than a probability. Against any such attack there is virtually no protective action which could be taken, even with unlimited resources, except evacuation if this were feasible. The concentration of Civil Defence effort is directed towards protection against what is regarded as the most likely hazard for this country — namely, radioactive fall-out. The main components of the Civil Defence measures against the hazard of fall-out consist of a wartime warning and monitoring network. We have, as the Deputy is probably aware, a booklet entitled Bás Beatha which gives advice with regard to how private dwellings could be protected to form a possible shelter in the event of fall-out. We have a public information and advisory service. This is directed by the Civil Defence branch of the Department of Defence. The updated contents of Bás Beatha would provide the bulk of the information and advice to be conveyed.

With regard to resources, the Civil Defence organisation, directed and controlled by the Department of Defence and staffed mainly by volunteer personnel enrolled in the local authority based Civil Defence units, are financed by a specific provision under the Defence Vote and contributions from local authorities at an aggregate cost of approximately £2 million per annum. The main resources are personnel who are organised and trained to carry out a range of tasks particularly relevant to wartime emergency. Except in relation to the fall-out hazard, the organisation have only very limited resources in terms of premises and equipment. However, these are continuously under review and, as resources become available, every effort will be made to increase the facilities made available to Civil Defence.

Are there any contingency plans in the Department of Defence to cover, for example, a situation in which central Government would break down——

It already has.

——requiring Government to be organised on a local basis——

Something is stirring over there. Where are all the Members?

Does any contingency plan exist in the Department for such an eventuality? Are there any contingency plans in the Department to organise such matters as the distribution of food, should that be necessary, and medical services and supplies, should they become necessary?

(Dún Laoghaire): Yes, there are contingency plans drawn up involving a number of Departments. The personnel involved meet on a regular basis to update these plans. I would also point out that the wartime warning and monitoring network is comprised of Department of Defence personnel, the Army Observer Corps and elements of the Garda Síochána, the Meterological Service, Irish Lights, RTE, certain local authority personnel and volunteer personnel of the Civil Defence warden service. It includes radiation protection, national, regional and county control centres with communication links and a broadcasting facility from the national control. Its equipment includes radiation measurment instruments. Also, the network is tested once a year through national fall-out exercises and I must say that these exercises have been performed very well to date in the various tests carried out.

What has been the increase in the financial contribution made by the Government to the Department of Defence in both providing and updating Civil Defence resources this year as against last year?

(Dún Laoghaire): I do not have the exact figures available. There has been a small percentage increase for 1984 over 1983 and I shall give the Deputy that information, if he so wishes.

That information is in the Book of Estimates which came out last week.

In the event of a nuclear disaster here, would the Minister inform the House where the national control centre would be located?

In Athlone.

It is in Athlone. The Deputy can give me the key.

The Minister and I will run the centre.

Is the Athlone centre to which the Minister has referred located in the basement of one of the billets of the barracks and has it now been properly equipped to meet the needs of such a tragedy?

(Dún Laoghaire): The Deputy will appreciate that for security reasons much of this information is not made public. As a former Minister for Defence himself he will appreciate the reasons for that. However, as I said earlier, in the event of a holocaust there are no adequate facilities available to cater for such a disaster.

The fall-out that the Minister himself mentioned?

(Dún Laoghaire): We concentrate mainly on fall-out. I am quite satisfied that every effort is being made to cover that area adequately.

3.