Irish Red Cross
Address:16, Merrion Square
2 - Dublin
Tel: +353 1 676 5135
Fax: +353 1 661 4461
Email: redcross@iol.ie
Website: www.redcross.ie
Legal Basis:
1938: The society is established under the Red Cross Act1939: Irish RC is subsequently formed and recognised by the ICRC1945: Irish RC joined the League of Red Cross societies.1999: The Irish Red Cross Society (Amendment) Order came into operation in February 1999, amending membership requirements. The most recent elections were held in May 1999.
Mission:
To fulfil the objectives of the Irish Red Cross as prescribed by the statutes and to be Ireland’s premier community service organization, the society strives to ensure:Implementation of the Red Cross CharterPrevention and alleviation of human sufferingProtection of life and healthRespect for the human being by continually delivering a high quality humanitarian service at home and abroadTo achieve this goal, the society has traditionally co-operated with the government in areas such as refugee services, health care and rescue services.
Constituency:
There are 115 branches located throughout the state.
Organisation/planning:
New development plan was introduced last year, following consultations with both volunteers and staff.
Co-operation with other societies: partnership with other national societies is conducted mainly through the government’s Agency for Personnel Overseas (APSO), which sends skilled people to work on relief projects in areas of need throughout the world.
Leadership:
President of Irish RC: the Irish Red Cross is a statutory organisation; the President of Ireland, by virtue of his/her position, is
President of the society.
The society’s Central Council is the main governing body. It meets twice a year to formulate policy and in the intervening period delegates powers to a 12-member Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee is composed of voluntary members and government appointees, and meets once a month.There are five other standing committees (known as working groups): finance, central unit control, medical advisory, youth, overseas and community services. The society’s staff and/or volunteers discuss plans with the respective working groups and recommendations may then be forwarded to the Executive Committee.
Challenge:
Ireland’s inflation rate in 2003 is forecast to rise to 5.1% according to the state-funded Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). After a period of sustained growth, with rising employment, unemployment is now growing and is forecast to be 5.5% at the end of the year. Growth rates will be between 3 and 4%. Immigration is rising while emigration is declining, leading to a population increase of 1.5% last year.
Paid staff:
16 at HQ, of whom 12 are women.
Volunteers:
2,879 volunteer members (approximately 45% men and 55% women). All work conducted by branches around the country is done on a voluntary basis; no volunteers work at national HQ. There has been a general fall in the number of people undertaking voluntary work, which is the greatest limitation on attracting and retaining volunteers.
Domestic Activities
Civil Protection
civil protection/disaster relief and preparedness (both national and international) mountain rescuemanagement of government funds for flood victimsEU road safety campaignsinvolvment in major emergency planningDissemination of IHL & RC principles
First Aid
First aid services at public eventsBasi first aid ans occupational first aid trainingHealth prevention and promotion
Training courses are offered: cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), caring for the sick, safe lifting/manual handling, public access defibrillation, cosmetic skin camouflage training professional healthcare providers in some regions, auxiliary ambulance service in all regions
Risk reduction / Disaster Preparedness
Social Services
local transport service for older people in rural areas
visiting services, including Therapeutic Hand Care, to older people in their own homes and in nursing homes
support of family carers & provision of a carer resource directory
Tracing
Tracing and Red Cross message servicesYouth
The society runs the School Safety Squad programme, which gives guidance to schoolchildren on how to avoid accidents and some basic first aid advice. Other activities for young people include cadet membership of First Aid units, an annual youth camp for teenagers and an entertainment troupe, which provides entertainment to sick children in hospital.
Amount spent on international work:
To date in 2003 and since the start of 2002, the Irish Red Cross provided € 1,543,822 to support international operations. This figure does not include delegate costs. This figure includes public donations to 11 different overseas appeals and an Ireland Aid (Irish Government) donation of € 1 million.
Membership in RCRC networks:
ELSG – European Legal Support GroupENPS – European Red Cross Societies Network for Psychological SupportEPSG – European Public Support GroupEuropean Reference Center on First AidReference Center on Psychological SupportWENDOV – Western European Network on Volunteer DevelopmentWEYRCN – West European Youth Red Cross Network
Country Information
Population:
4.027 million
GPD per capita:€ 29,500
Life expectancy:77.3 years
Infant mortality:5.3 ‰
Accession to the EU:1973
