Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the need for an upgrading of the fire-fighting services throughout the country; if he intends to provide the resources necessary to meet the requirements, such as, enhanced training and equipment, the provision of adequate body protection and where required, protection from vandalism; when he expected to put this programme in train; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24275/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects to provide the necessary resources to meet the ongoing and future requirements of the firefighting services in County Kildare with particular reference to training, equipment, station facilities or other requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24276/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 228 together.

The provision of a fire service, including equipment, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities and my Department has no direct role in this matter. My Department supports the local fire authorities through the setting of general policy, the provision of capital funding, the issue of guidance to fire authorities in relation to fire prevention and operational matters and other such initiatives.

Over the past 25 years, almost €240 million has been provided to local fire authorities under the fire services capital programme for the provision of new and refurbished fire stations and the purchase of fire appliances and other equipment. At this stage, over two-thirds of our fire stations, including almost all of the busiest stations, have been replaced, we have a modern fleet of front-line fire appliances, and we have a modern emergency response communications system. In the current year almost €20 million has been allocated to the Fire Services capital programme. This allocation will be used to further modernise and update the resources available to the fire authorities.

In addition, since 2001, my Department has provided almost €4.2 billion in general purpose grants to assist the local authorities in carrying out their statutory functions, including the provision of fire services.