Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes. The provision will commence as soon as we have the legislation in place. I am happy that after a very long period, we have been able to work out something that was causing genuine hardship.

It is a critically important that this service should be available, particularly in rural communities. Perhaps the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will change its arrangements but it has advantages. It allows for a fire service throughout the country and I am happy to do this. I do not have the capacity to go further at this point.