John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the main causes of house fires here, where lives have been lost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40420/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Statistics supplied to the Department by fire authorities indicate that there were 157 domestic fatal fires which resulted in 179 fatalities in the period 2004 - 2008.

The attributed cause of these fatalities, as reported by the fire authorities, and the presence or otherwise of smoke alarms at these incidents, are indicated in Tables 1 and 2 below. Over half the fatal fire incidents occurred where there was no smoke alarm or no working smoke alarm on the premises.

The theme of this year's National Fire Safety Week, held at the start of October was "Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives". The week marks the commencement of an annual fire safety promotion campaign which is held on an all-island basis. The campaign raises awareness of the importance of having working smoke alarms in dwellings and ensuring batteries are checked at regular intervals. The media campaign, which includes television and radio, press, on-line and outdoor advertising, will run until February 2010.