Written answers

Wednesday, 17 October 2007

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Fire Service

9:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if adequate funding has been provided by his Department to the various local authorities to ensure the availability of modern equipment, breathing apparatus and fire appliances for the various fire services, part-time and full-time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24493/07]

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of a fire service, including equipment, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities and the Department has no direct role in this matter. The 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, training support 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 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 €21million has been allocated to the Fire Services capital programme. This will be used further to modernise and update the resources available to the fire authorities. In addition, since 2001, the Department has provided €5.2 billion in general purpose grants to assist the local authorities in carrying out their statutory functions, including the provision of fire services.

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