In a recent parliamentary question, Sven Clement from Luxembourg's Pirate Party criticised some of the changes that the transition to a centralised emergency organisation brought about. Interior minister Taina Bofferding has now replied to Clement's criticism.
In short, Bofferding underlined that CGDIS handled each emergency successfully.
Regarding the organisation's potential staff shortage, Bofferding explained that some difficulty in finding enough volunteers persisted. However, she also argued the shortage was one of the reasons why CGDIS saw the light of day in the first place.
She added that officials are currently devising strategies based on careful analyses. Several measures have already been taken to ensure the emergency services' efficiency, compensating for staff shortage.
Bofferding stated that the government was for example working on new recruitment and coaching strategies for volunteer fire brigades. A new online information platform was also being worked on, she added.
In his parliamentary question, Clement also inquired how many volunteers resigned since 1 July. According to the minister, a total of 37 resigned while 138 prospective firemen handed in their application forms. Bofferding maintained that there are also clear procedures for each kind of emergency. These procedures, she explained, ensure an equal distribution of resources across the country. CGDIS for example also works with a standardised emergency protocol.
In the event of a fire, the local fire brigade is always dispatched first. If first aid is required, CGDIS first checks which ambulances are available and close by.
In case of large scale operations, the "operations management centre" is activated. The latter is in charge of organising reinforcements and guaranteeing full coverage for the rest of the country, Bofferding explained.
