Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

During periods of very dry weather there are many - perhaps too many - gorse fires across County Kerry which often have to be tackled by up to five fire brigades, but they are powerless because they cannot move off the road. Fire service personnel are very good, but they can only do so much. Why does the service not use excavators to open a fire belt to stop a fire from spreading? We have seen fires continue for four or five days. In many cases fire brigades run out of water and there is no supply accessible to them at such locations. Why does the service not diversify and in some instances use excavators which would be more cost effective?