Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 455: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has determined the impact of the fire services change programme on the wider community and the fire services personnel. [42314/08]

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 458: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the future role of the four steering groups and if they will be used to provide expert advice to him; and when the local liaison teams will be selected and publicised. [42317/08]

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 459: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way and the locations at which the competency in recruitment and advancement in the fire service project has been implemented outside of the Dublin fire service; and if this training will be of the highest standards including the dynamic risk assessment process. [42318/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 455, 458 and 459 together.

In February 2005, the Government announced a Fire Services Change Programme, 2005 to 2007 which included four priority areas addressing the development of a risk based approach to safety management, the enhancement of health, safety and welfare programmes within the fire service, the development of community fire safety programmes and the introduction of a competency-based approach to recruitment, retention and career progression in the fire service.

Work under the Change Programme was carried out by a dedicated project structure which included a High Level Implementation Group and four Steering Groups, one for each of the priority areas. A Project Communications Strategy was developed which set out the methods to be used to ensure that stakeholders were aware of and involved in the development and change implementation processes. The Communications Strategy included the appointment of Project Liaison Teams in eight regions, with one representative in each fire authority. A report on progress achieved over the two year period was published in June 2007 and is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. With the publication of the Fire Services Change Programme progress report, the Project Structure stood down, including the four Steering Groups and the Project Liaison Teams.

The Department has continued to support the modernisation programme for the fire services with increased capital investment and the further development (having regard to best practice internationally) and implementation of programmes initiated under the Fire Services Change Programme. The Department's community fire safety programmes are aimed at shifting the focus from response to prevention and the Department is working with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, who have made significant progress in this area.

In relation to the development of a risk based approach to safety management, a tender contract has been awarded for the national procurement of a risk based utility software through Dublin City Council acting as contracting authority. This work is being developed through the CAMP (Computer Aided Mobilisation Project) structure.

As part of the Safety and Health Enhancement module of the Fire Services Change Programme, an updated fire service National Incident Command System was developed and training in the application of the new system was provided across the country. Regrettably, I understand that SIPTU has instructed its members not to cooperate with the introduction of the National Incident Command System and that this matter is due to be heard by the Labour Court early in December 2008.

The development of community fire safety programmes is being progressed through the ongoing support of the Primary Schools Programme and the Community Smoke Alarm Campaign. The annual National Fire Safety Week, which was organised by the Department jointly with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, ran from 6 to 15 October 2008. The associated television and other media campaigns will continue until the end of the year. The High Level Implementation Group established as part of the Fire Services Change Programme recommended that fire authorities should introduce a competency based approach to fire service training aligned to the FETAC (Further Education and Training Awards Council)/National Qualifications Authority of Ireland system.

My Department has engaged extensively with FETAC and there have been a number of strands where significant progress has been made towards implementation of the alignment with FETAC. From discussion with FETAC, it is envisaged that education and training provision for fire services would be developed under a structure encompassing all fire authorities with a single interface between the fire services and FETAC.

My Department has prepared consultation documents in relation to a FETAC compliant training system for fire services in Ireland. These will be circulated in the near future to all fire authorities and the Fire Services Council for comment. The objective is to convert the existing fire service training programmes to a FETAC compliant system with its associated quality assurance arrangements.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 456: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of people who were rescued alive from dwelling fires; the number of people who were harmed; and the number of people who were rescued unharmed. [42315/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Returns from fire authorities indicate that the number of fire related deaths (attended by fire brigades) in 2006 and 2007 were 42 and 38 respectively. The returns do not contain statistics in relation to the number of people rescued.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 457: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when funds allocated to a group (details supplied) for computers in every fire station will be released; and the action being taken to improve communications within the fire services. [42316/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The provision of a fire service, including the provision of fire fighting and associated equipment is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities. The Department supports the local fire authorities through the setting of general policy and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by local authorities in relation to the purchase of fire appliances, emergency equipment and communications equipment.

Fire authorities have successfully worked together with my Department on a shared services initiative to develop a computer- based system to handle emergency calls for the fire service. Under the system known as CAMP (Computer Aided Mobilisation Project), all emergency calls for the fire service are channelled to one of three control centres at Dublin, Castlebar and Limerick and the appropriate fire brigade response is activated from the relevant centre. In addition to dispatching fire service resources, where appropriate, the CAMP control centre will also notify other emergency services e.g. An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive or the Irish Coast Guard. Similarly, other emergency services control centres may direct 999/112 calls to the CAMP system.

In addition, under this year's fire service capital programme provision was made to support the enhancement of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Infrastructure within the fire service generally. While it is my understanding that the majority of fire authorities have equipped retained fire stations with suitable ICT equipment, a survey is currently being undertaken to identify remaining stations which have not been equipped to date. Following the completion of this survey, applications from fire authorities for matching funding to network fire stations will be considered having regard to overall priorities and competing demands for available funding under the fire services capital programme.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 460: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the risk assessments required from any or all of the 37 local authorities under the fire services change programme have been completed and are available to the public; if the preventative measures required to mitigate the risks identified have been published or implemented; and if the health, safety and welfare statements have been completed for stations, equipment, work ground, work from heights and water rescue. [42319/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

I assume that the question refers to risk assessment in the context of safety, health and welfare legislation. Risk assessment is used in multiple contexts, including major emergency management, by fire services. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 sets out statutory requirements for risk assessment. As part of the Safety and Health Enhancement module of the Fire Services Change Programme 2005-2007, a new Ancillary Safety Statement Template was developed, in conjunction with the Health and Safety Authority and stakeholders, which included risk assessment methodologies for fixed work locations such as fire stations and generic risk assessment for different categories of incident. Furthermore, as fire authorities have to respond to incidents anywhere in their functional area, a dynamic risk assessment process in line with international best practice was developed and included as an integral part of the new fire service National Incident Command System.