Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide emergency funding as a matter of urgency to Clare County Council for the acquisition of two additional water tankers to improve the capacity of the fire service to fight fires in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28635/07]

Tony 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 and operational matters and other such initiatives.

Under the annual Fire Services Capital Programmes in the period since 1998 to 2006 Clare County Council has received approval for 6 new fire appliances at a cost of around €1.3m and a new emergency tender at a cost of €265,000. In August 2007, under the 2007 Fire Services Capital Programme, Clare County Council received approval to purchase one new Class B Fire Appliance at a cost of €288,000. While the Department has not received any proposal for additional water tankers from Clare County Council, I understand that the Council intends to submit a formal application for funding. Any such proposal will be considered under the Department's 2008 fire services capital programme.