Councillors back integrated first response system

The Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council has called for the creation of an integrated emergency call-out system that would align the local Civil Defence with Community First Responder (CFR) groups supported by the HSE, in a move aimed at improving survival rates in emergencies.

Addressing the April monthly meeting of the council, Fianna Fáil’s John Paul Feeley highlighted the growing importance of community-based emergency response, pointing in particular to the impact of the volunteer CFR group established in Corlough last year.He said it was “not a matter of course” that community emergency response groups were notified when incidents occur, but argued that if they were, pre-hospital care could be applied sooner.

Cllr Feeley also referenced the development of a HSE-supported mobile application designed to reduce response times and deliver life-saving information directly to Community First Responders across Ireland. The system, launched by the National Ambulance Service last year, was tested in late 2025 before being rolled out nationally in early 2026.

While welcoming the initiative, he stressed it was not a substitute for “fully staffed” core ambulance service.

The motion calling for greater coordination and encouraging qualified volunteers to sign up received support from former fire service member and Sinn Féin councillor Damien Brady. He said he had witnessed first-hand delays in waiting for trained ambulance personnel to arrive at emergency scenes.

Cllr Brady noted that Civil Defence members in Cavan were “well trained” and could play a valuable role in providing immediate assistance when available.

“A road traffic collision should be an automatic call out,” he said, adding that an integrated response protocol could be of “immense benefit” to everyone.

Cllrs Clifford Kelly, Patricia Walsh (FF), and Trevor Smith (FG) all backed the call for improved coordination between emergency services at community level.