Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 539: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is satisfied that local authorities have fire fighting equipment adequate to deal with fires in high-rise buildings; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the equipment available and the heights attainable by fire fighters is in line with that available in other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27771/05]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of a fire service, including appliances and equipment, is a matter for the local fire authority. My Department assists local fire authorities in providing funding for the purchase of fire appliances and rescue equipment. The building regulations 1997 to 2002 set down functional requirements for fire safety in high-rise buildings and technical guidance document B, issued under the building regulations provides guidance on how to meet these requirements. This guidance is prepared on the basis that the occupants of any part of such a building should be able to escape safely from the building in an emergency without external assistance. Therefore, these buildings must be designed so that people can safely evacuate and fire fighters can enter without relying on external aerial appliances.