15.— (1) A local authority may, in accordance with such directions as may be given by the Minister to the local authority, appoint such and so many persons as it considers appropriate to perform such functions as are specified in those directions within the administrative area of that local authority in relation to civil defence as it considers appropriate.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Minister may give directions under this section to local authorities in relation to—

(a) the classes of persons who are eligible to be appointed to be civil defence members, and

(b) the form and manner in which an application for registration as a civil defence member shall be made.

(3) An appointment under this section shall cease if—

(a) the local authority concerned revokes the appointment, or

(b) in the case of an appointment that is for a fixed period, on the expiry of that period.

(4) In this section “administrative area” has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2001.