John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the status of considerations or guidelines issued by the Health and Safety Authority relative to pay at the pump fuel terminals; if chief fire officers and planning authorities are fully briefed on the way such guidelines might be implemented throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28829/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Local Authorities are responsible for the licensing of petrol stations. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation does not have any role or responsibility in this matter, nor in the area of fire prevention or planning. Neither my Department nor the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) issues guidelines to Local Authorities in fire or planning matters. I am not in a position to say whether or not chief fire officers or planning authorities are briefed on this or any other matter.

I understand that, as an operational matter, if Local Authorities who are in receipt of licensing applications for petrol stations ask the HSA for their observations on particular aspects of applications, these are provided. The manner and extent to which a Local Authority factors these observations into the process of deciding on a licence application, or briefs relevant officials and authorities, are matters for the Local Authority itself.