Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will provide funding for lands for a new fire station (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23823/08]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, 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 and the provision of lands for new fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. The Department has no direct role in these matters.

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.

North Tipperary County Council submitted a proposal to my Department for the provision of a new fire station at Cloughjordan, County Tipperary in May 2005. While it has not been possible to fund this proposal to date, funding has been provided for other priority projects at Thurles and Templemore.

The provision of funding for Cloughjordan will be considered having regard to the overall availability of resources, the spread of existing facilities, and competing demands of fire authorities for available funds under the fire services capital programme.