Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 541: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date on the provision of a new fire station at Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny where a site is available following the opening of the ring road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8760/08]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 542: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date on the provision of a new fire station at Castlecomer, County Kilkenny. [8761/08]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 543: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date on the provision of a new fire station at Urlingford in County Kilkenny where a site is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8762/08]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 to 543, inclusive, together.

The provision of a fire service in a fire authority's 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 the individual fire authority 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 funding under the fire service capital programme.

In 2005, the Department approved an application from Kilkenny County Council to construct a replacement fire station in Castlecomer. I understand the current position is that tenders in respect of this project have recently been submitted to Kilkenny County Council and are being assessed by the fire authority. When this assessment is completed, the council will submit a recommendation on the tender competition to the Department for approval.

Applications for funding have been made to the Department for the construction of a replacement station at Urlingford and a two bay station in Graiguenamanagh.

I understand the Department has recently written to Kilkenny County Council requesting it to rank these applications in order of priority. The Department has also requested that the fire authority prepare and submit a capital appraisal in respect of both projects in line with the Department of Finance's guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure proposals in the public sector. Upon receipt of the additional documentation sought by the Department and an indication of the council's priorities, the projects will be considered in the context of future capital programmes.