Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)

I highlight the great work of our fire services nationally, both the full-time and the part-time services that support our communities all over the country. At the same time, I highlight the recent National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, report. NOAC evaluates all of the local authorities and looks at their spending. I highlight the disparity across the country in what is being spent on fire services and in the service that is provided. Based on the 2024 figures, the average cost per capita is €74.85. However, there is a glaring underspend in a number of local authorities. Many of the local authorities are spending approximately half that amount on the service they are providing. At a time when the Government is looking at removing roadblocks to housing and improving our electricity, water and transport infrastructure, I would hope we could be more proactive in relation to the services we are providing to support the people who will be moving into these houses rather than reactively trying to improve these services when we see the increase in population at a later stage. This seems to be a bigger issue in rural counties where fire services cover vast areas. Somehow the spend is coming in at a much lower level than it potentially should be. I call for a debate, when the opportunity presents itself, on the delivery of a more consistent service across the country and on consistent investment in that service.