Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 23 June 2022

Public Accounts Committee

2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Central Government Funding of Local Authorities

9:30 am

Photo of Brian StanleyBrian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I am sorry to interrupt you, Ms Quinn, but there are approximately half a dozen big issues, which I will not list here. I ask you to accelerate that process. We do not have time. There are already stations that do not have the required number of staff. It is a good service and it has withstood the test of time. From my observations in the county where I live, it is an absolutely fantastic service. I acknowledge that there has been substantial investment from the Department in equipment such as fire tenders, training towers and new fire stations. That is all to the good, although there are still a couple outstanding such as Rathdowney and Stradbally. You might take note that they are badly in need of a new station. However, there has been great investment. The problem is that we will not have the staff if we do not move quickly on this. Perhaps you will take that point away and refer back to the committee with a response on what can be done to accelerate that process.

Deputy Verona Murphy has a brief question.