Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As context for this Commencement matter, on Easter Sunday morning just past, 20 April, I was awakened in my house by what I thought was a car alarm. However, I quickly realised it was the sound of a number of smoke alarms going off. While there was no indication of any smoke in the house at the time, because the alarms were going off, I went around the bedrooms first, then downstairs to the living room and kitchen. It was only as I was making my way back upstairs I got the smell of smoke. I went back down into the kitchen, opened the utility room door and, as I did so, it burst open. I then realised we were in trouble. The utility room was totally ablaze with toxic fumes flying out. I had the presence of mind to close the door, roar upstairs to my family to get out and ring the fire brigade. I commend Cavan and Belturbet fire brigades. They were on the scene in 20 minutes and saved the house but, more importantly, saved us as a family, myself and my two young twin girls.

The reason I raise this today is that the building regulations that were introduced in 1997 covering fire safety and smoke alarms do not cover houses that were built prior to that. From 1997, a grade D smoke alarm was required in the hallway, landing and kitchen. From 2006, a grade D smoke alarm was required in the hallway, landing, kitchen and principal living room of a dwelling. From 2017, new minimum requirements were introduced which included those but also added to them attics, the audibility of alarms, the requirement to test them and various electrical specifications. In the case of houses built prior to the regulations being introduced in 1997, the owners should be contacted by the local authorities in relation to fire safety to encourage them to ensure adequate fire alarms are in their homes.

Between 2019 and 2024, there were 124 deaths caused by fire. Any fire chiefs or firefighters will say it is not the fire that kills but the smoke. In my experience, only for the smoke alarms we would be dead. Each year the fire safety authorities carry out a fire safety awareness week. In 2024, they concentrated in particular on fire safety in the home.As we are aware, due to the new hybrid way of working now many people work during the day in their own homes, at least for most of the week. Fires can start at any time. It is vitally important people are aware of the fire safety regulations, how to try to put the fire out with the proper equipment and, more importantly, how to escape from the house if fire breaks out.

I ask the Minister of State to please consider a public awareness campaign. I know a campaign is carried out for one week during the year but I think it should be continuously carried out throughout the year on our televisions, radios and social media outlets. It is vitally important that people are aware. Believe it or not, there are people who have no smoke alarms in their houses. I spoke to a man recently who told me he considered it a nuisance because every time he was cooking it went off so he threw it out. It is very important that this matter is addressed.