Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Killeen, to the House to respond to this issue.

On 6 March I raised on the Adjournment the urgent need for a fully-equipped modern fire station in Tallow, County Waterford. The Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who replied to the issue, stated he was fully aware of the needs in Waterford and he hoped to respond positively to the request in respect of Tallow as soon as resources allowed. He indicated he was conscious of the need for a new station in Tallow and that the matter would be very much borne in mind under the new programme.

I was delighted to read in the Dungarvan Observer of 16 June that pre-construction funding of €600,000 had been allocated by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for a new fire station in Tallow. In answer to a Dáil question put down on 26 June to the new Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding Lismore fire station, I was informed that the provision of a station in the wider west Waterford area would be considered under future programmes regarding the existing facilities, level of activity, proximity of other fire stations, fire authorities' priorities and competing demands for available funds.

The Minister, Deputy Gormley, further stated that his Department had written to the fire authority requesting an appraisal of fire cover in the wider west Waterford area given the proximity of Lismore, Tallow and Cappoquin fire stations. There was also to be an outline of priorities for replacements in the county.

Having received this reply I contacted Waterford County Council and asked for clarification. I was informed that the letter was received by Waterford County Council on 1 June 2007, dated 30 May 2007, from the private secretary to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It reads "I have been asked by Mr. Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to refer to your letter regarding the proposal from Waterford County Council for a new fire station in Tallow".

I will skip a middle paragraph which relates to previous investments in County Waterford and move on to the final paragraph. It reads:

A formal proposal for the new station at Tallow has been submitted to my Department, along with proposals from competing demands for capital investment in fire services. Under the programme the Tallow fire station project has been allocated pre-construction funds of €600,000.

I sought clarification from the Minister's office in late July as to what the €600,000 towards the Tallow fire station was for. I put down a parliamentary question on 26 September and I provided a copy of the letter from the private secretary to the Minister to the Waterford county secretary with my question. The question was as follows: "To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding provided in his Department's capital works programme 2007 towards the Tallow fire station project".

The reply avoided the question, stating the Department had recently requested Waterford County Council to prioritise projects it wished to progress under the fire services capital programme. It further stated that the provision of Exchequer funding for a replacement fire station in Tallow will be considered under future capital programmes, having regard to County Waterford's priorities, the existing facilities at the station, the proximity of other stations and the competing demands from other fire authorities.

I have one question for the Minister of State. What is the status of the letter dated 30 May to Waterford County Council in regard to the pre-construction funds of €600,000 allocated to the Tallow fire station project?

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Before I address the substance of the issue raised by Deputy O' Shea, and given that we have been debating the tragic events in Bray, I am sure the House will join me again in paying tribute to the dedication and selflessness shown by the two members of the fire service who so tragically died while dealing with the fire in Bray, County Wicklow, almost two weeks ago. My sincere sympathy goes to the families and colleagues of the deceased, Mark O' Shaughnessy and Brian Murray, at this sad time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.

I also wish to express my appreciation for the very significant contribution which the fire services in this country, both retained and full time, have made and continue to make each day, in safeguarding our communities.

The fire service capital programme is an annual programme and the 2007 programme has been fully allocated. Although no funding was provided in 2007 for Tallow fire station, Waterford County Council may prioritise Tallow fire station in future years, if considered appropriate, in seeking funding from the Department.

The first step in developing a project such as Tallow fire station under the programme is for the relevant local authority to prioritise it and apply to the Department for approval in principle. Projects are appraised on a case-by-case basis. To ensure effective project management after a given project is approved in principle, detailed cost plans and design plans, as well as draft contract documents, must be approved in advance of the project being put out to tender in line with public procurement provisions. These steps are intended to ensure value for money is achieved and the best possible use of resources is obtained under the programme. Typically, under the capital programme, sums are recouped by local authorities after construction has commenced.

Approval in principle was granted in 2001 for a new fire station in Tallow. Although it has not been possible to provide funding for this station as part of the 2007 fire services capital programme announced earlier this year, funding has been provided for various other priority projects which have been advanced in County Waterford since 2001. These include replacement stations and extensions or upgrading works at stations in Ardmore, Cappoquin, Dungarvan, Dunmore East and Tramore.

The Department has recently requested Waterford County Council to prioritise projects that the council wishes to progress under the fire services capital programme. The provision of Exchequer funding for a replacement fire station in Tallow will be considered under future capital programmes having regard to Waterford County Council's priorities, the existing facilities at the station, the proximity of other stations, and the competing demands from other fire authorities for available funding. I hope I have been able to clarify the matter for the Deputy.

I was not aware of the question regarding the letter which Deputy Brian O'Shea has referred to mentioning the amount of €600,000. I will seek to establish an answer to the question asked by the Deputy.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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The Minister of State might get back to me about it.