Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the tragic Stardust disaster and it is perhaps fitting that we have a much-needed debate on reform and improvement of the fire service. On the Stardust issue, I reiterate Sinn Féin's absolute support for the campaign of the families of those killed and injured.

In 2004, Dublin Fire Brigade responded to more than 200 incidents per day on average. That single statistic is a testament to the skill, courage and determination of the men and women of the fire brigade but without substantial changes, a disaster is waiting to happen. Our overstretched fire service is unable to respond adequately. There is an urgent need to focus attention on reform and investment in the fire service. Dublin Fire Brigade delivers a range of services and it is unacceptable that the last fire risk assessment was carried out more than 20 years ago.

I ask the Minister of State to indicate in his response if the Government would be prepared to pursue the issue of putting such an assessment in place with the various local authorities. Blanchardstown fire station, whose area includes Connolly hospital as well as a major chemical storage facility, has just one fire appliance. Fingal has some of the largest chemical sites in the State but to date has no equipment for mass decontamination. In addition, the two high-reach turntables for buildings over three storeys are based in Tara Street and would require a lengthy period of time to reach areas like Fingal or my area in Tallaght, where 12 storey apartments are currently being built.

There has been a short-sighted approach taken and criminal disregard for the non-involvement of the fire service in planning matters in Dublin. Since it is not represented on many of the major planning forums in the city and county, due consideration is now given to the way good planning can impact on, for example, access to fires and other emergencies and a faster reaction time, in allowing multiple units to congregate at a serious incident and enabling sustainable traffic diversions to be put in place. Dublin Fire Brigade is not represented on the Northern Fringe Forum and the forums overseeing developments in Adamstown, Poolbeg, Rathmichael, Cherrywood and Cherry Orchard.

In addition to the issue of assessment, I ask the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to take steps to address the lack of representation of the fire brigade as of right on planning forums such as those I mentioned. Concern has also been expressed about the fact that there are no plans to purchase fire tenders with a reach longer than seven storeys, despite the increasing number of taller buildings. The two turntables for three storey and higher buildings are located in Tara Street, which prolongs the response time to some areas. A review of equipment in terms of what is available and needed and where it is deployed is essential.

Another indictment of the parties that have been in power relates to the fact that the number of fire brigade ambulances has not increased since 1986. The number of emergency calls received annually has increased from 26,000 to more than 80,000 yet there are still only 11 ambulances. The fatal accident on Dublin's south quays in 2004 that left five people dead stretched the fire and ambulance units. Eight ambulances were deployed to Wellington Quay, leaving just three for the rest of the county. Two major accidents occurring at the same time, therefore, would cause a major problem and would inevitably lead to injury and possible loss of life. I urge the Government to carry out urgent reform and invest in the State's fire service, which is currently under-resourced and under-structured.

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am giving this reply on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche. I thank Deputy Crowe for raising the matter on the Adjournment.

The Minister is anxious to record the commitment of the Government to the fire service and the way that commitment has been backed up by positive action both in terms of change and financial investment. He also wants to express his appreciation for the very significant contribution the fire service has made, and continues to make each day, in safeguarding our communities. I join the Minister in that tribute.

The environment in which the fire service operates has changed dramatically in recent years. With that in mind, the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, appointed consultants Farrell Grant Sparks to carry out a review of the fire service and make recommendations. The outcome of that review was the report, Review of Fire Safety and Fire Services in Ireland. That is the template for the development of the service.

Many of the recommendations of the Farrell Grant Sparks report have been implemented already. These include, in particular, the enactment of the Licensing of Indoor Events Act 2003, which addressed a number of legislative changes called for in the review. In February 2005, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, announced the fire services change programme to implement the key fire services and fire safety recommendations of the report.

The fire services change programme sets out the strategy for the future development of the fire service and includes measures addressing the development of community fire safety programmes; the development of a risk based approach to the determination of fire cover standards; the introduction of a competency-based approach to recruitment, retention and career progression in the fire service; and the enhancement of health, safety and welfare programmes within the fire service.

Work on the fire services change programme is being carried out by a project team of dedicated fire service professionals and is progressing satisfactorily. All of the key stakeholder groups in the fire service are participating positively in the change programme. The Minister is confident this approach can take us forward and achieve real progress in modernising the fire service. The outputs from the change programme will significantly reshape the delivery of fire and rescue services in the years ahead. The Minister has made it clear on many occasions that his priority under the fire services change programme is not to pursue further institutional change at this time but to use the available resources to bring about direct and real improvements in the key fire services and the fire safety area.

The fire service can never have enough resources but we must achieve a balance. There have been massive improvements affecting all areas of the service — more investment in infrastructure and equipment, more staff, better training, improved communications and legislation has been stepped up. We have 3,400 persons employed in the fire service. There are more than 1,000 full-time firefighters in our major cities and more than 2,000 retained staff who respond to protect their own communities when needed. We have 170 senior personnel who lead the service, including professional staff members who examine all building plans for fire safety and carry out inspections of premises.

Our training in the fire service is to international standards. The Fire Services Council assists fire authorities through the provision of training courses and seminars to supplement the training provided by the authorities. The council runs an annual programme of training courses and seminars for senior and junior fire officers and for the instructors who train the firefighters at local level. Since 2001, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has provided more than €2.3 million to the Fire Services Council for this purpose.

In tandem with implementing the fire services change programme, we are continuing to maintain a very high level of capital investment in the fire service. Over the past 25 years, almost €240 million has been provided to local fire authorities under the fire services capital programme for the provision of new and refurbished fire stations and the purchase of fire appliances and other equipment. At this stage, more than two thirds of our fire stations, including almost all of the busiest stations, have been replaced, we have a modem fleet of front-line fire appliances and a modem emergency response communications system and our equipment is world class.