Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 632: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when approval will be given for the extension and improvements at a fire station (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the timeframe for the provisions of the funding; the reason for the delay in providing funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12267/10]

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 and the provision of premises 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 provision of funding under the fire service capital programme and through setting of general policy.

Following an application by North Tipperary County Council, approval in principle to extend the fire station in Templemore was granted in 2007. Detailed design plans for the project are awaited from the county council.

Further investment in the fire service in North Tipperary will be considered under future capital programmes within the constraints of available resources and will have regard to the fire authority's priorities, the spread of existing facilities, and the totality of demands from other fire authorities for available funding.