Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a fire safety study or fire risk assessment was last carried out for County Meath. [46245/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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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, 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. Section 10 of the Act also requires fire authorities when undertaking these functions to have regard to the nature of the fire hazards and the probable incidence and extent of fires in its functional area. 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 capital funding.

In addition Section 26 of the Act requires each fire authority which maintains a fire brigade to prepare and revise plans for fire and emergency operations showing the provision made by it in respect of organisation, appliances, equipment, fire stations, water supplies and extinguishing agents, training, operational procedure and such other matters as may be relevant, and for dealing with operations of an emergency nature. The making and revision of such plans is a reserved function.