Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of additional as opposed to replacement fire appliances that he has provided to Dublin Fire Brigade for the years 2007 to 2010, inclusive, and to date in 2011. [28723/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The provision of a fire service, including the provision of fire fighting appliances and emergency equipment, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities as set out in the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to the approved purchase of fire appliances and equipment. Dublin City Council's Fire Brigade provides fire services on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities.

During the period 2007 to 2011 to date, funding to support the acquisition of eight new appliances was allocated to Dublin Fire Brigade. As Dublin Fire Brigade manages its fire appliance fleet, I am not in a position to distinguish definitively between replacement and additional appliances but in general, such funding is likely to be in support of fleet replacement.