Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

I join my fellow parliamentarians in offering my sincere condolences to the families of Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy. At this time, we think of all members of the fire services who have given their lives in carrying out their duties to the highest calibre.

The efforts made by members of the fire services are often underestimated, usually going without recognition except when tragedy strikes. The members of the fire service are there all the time, even carrying out extra duties. For example in the Dublin Mid-West constituency, funding for a defibrillator was raised, largely through the idea of Deputy Billy Timmins. Of their own volition, members of the fire services will train volunteers in the use of the defibrillator. That is just one example of how they contribute to the community.

I thank Deputy Ciarán Lynch and the Labour Party for the opportunity to speak on this motion. It is a sombre time so I will not get into party politics. I acknowledge the comments of the Minister, Deputy John Gormley, that it would be premature to do further work until the investigations under way are completed. The Minister stated that any necessary changes arising from the investigations would be examined and acted upon by him. I am not an expert in this area, but a family member was involved in a tragedy in a serious fire.

I would like the original report on fire services, completed five years ago, to be implemented quicker than it has been. I welcome the publication of an interim report in June 2007 and the fact that phase 1 of the programme has been completed. This debate is necessary, not just in terms of paying respects, but also as a kick-start to a sometimes slow bureaucracy.

There are some relevant issues pertaining to the Dublin Mid-West constituency, particularly in the new town being developed in Adamstown and Lucan, one of the fastest growing towns. Despite this, Lucan does not have a fire station. While a fire station was allocated to Adamstown, the local authority noted when An Bord Pleanála made its decision on the Adamstown project that there were no plans by Dublin Fire Brigade to construct a new fire station there but it was prudent to have one set aside. Given that it is the city authority rather than the local authority that is in charge, I hope through this forum to put pressure on the fire services and Dublin City Council on the need for a fire station in Lucan, which has a population of over 36,000. Adamstown, when completed, will add an extra 25,000 people to population. With local traffic gridlock and road works on the M50, it is impossible for the fire services to reasonably carry out its role from Blanchardstown or Tallaght fire stations. We are lucky a major tragedy has not yet happened.

I raised the matter of the nearby part-time service in Leixlip, which covers Lucan, but there was a negative response from the fire service and other sources. I understand the logic of each local authority having its responsibility but at the same time common sense dictates that if there is a fire station nearby to an area not properly served by one, it should be used until one is built.

Many fire stations, including Blanchardstown and Tallaght, do not have equipment that can reach further than a seven-storey building. Adamstown's proposed fire station will need equipment that can reach the proposed 13-storey buildings for the town project.

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