Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 196: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of part time and full time firemen currently employed here by the various local authorities; if he proposes to increase the number of full time staff or otherwise restructure the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8406/08]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Information supplied by fire authorities indicates that, at 1 January 2007, the total number of full-time and retained personnel employed in the fire service as Fire-Fighter/Leading Fire-Fighter/Driver/Mechanic is 1,057 and 1,692 respectively.

The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, 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.