Written answers

Thursday, 8 May 2008

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Fire Stations

5:00 pm

Photo of Bobby AylwardBobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 597: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status on the provision of a new fire station for Castlecomer in County Kilkenny. [17843/08]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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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.

My 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.

Approval in principle was granted under my Department's 2005 fire service capital programme for the construction of a new fire station in Castlecomer, County Kilkenny.

Based on documentation submitted by the fire authority, in May 2007, my Department approved the fire authority's proposal to invite tenders for the construction of the station.

During the subsequent preparation of contract documents and detailed site investigation in the early summer of 2007, a survey of the proposed site for the new fire station indicated contaminated soil in one of the boreholes tested.

The fire authority subsequently invited tenders in respect of the construction of the station. In April 2008, following an assessment by the fire authority of tenders received, the fire authority wrote to my Department requesting sanction to accept a recommended tender.

My Department has recently been in contact with the fire authority in relation to issues concerning compliance with provisions of Department of Finance Circulars on construction procurement reform (Circular 33/06 and Circular 04/08). These issues relate in particular to the requirement to use new Forms of Construction Contracts for Public Works.

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