Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the recent call from Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann for better fire fighting services on islands. [31222/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I should point out to the Deputy in the first instance that responsibility for the provision of fire services on islands rests with the relevant local authorities and that I have no statutory function in the matter.

Notwithstanding this, my Department has provided some financial assistance to local authorities in order to facilitate improved fire fighting services on islands. Details of assistance provided for the installation of smoke alarms and fire extinguishers in island houses is set out in the following table.

In addition, in 2005, I sanctioned a sum of €146,218 jointly to Donegal and Galway County Councils as 50% of the cost of providing new fire tenders on Árainn Mhór, Co. Donegal and Árainn, Co. Galway.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to consider favourably, within the resources available to it, applications from local authorities for further capital assistance to provide enhanced fire fighting services on islands.