Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has given further consideration to the establishment of full time fire services in areas with a population in excess of 10,000 people. [31698/07]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981.

The Department's role is one of supporting and assisting local authorities in delivering fire services through the setting of general policy and the provision of capital funding. Under the Fire Services Change Programme a Risk Based Approach to Fire Safety Management is being developed. When this system is available it will assist fire authorities in carrying out a risk analysis in their functional areas to inform the allocation of resources.