James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding an application made by Longford County Council to his Department to appoint two consultants for the proposed new fire station in County Longford (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34798/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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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. My Department's role is one of supporting and assisting fire authorities in delivering fire services through the provision of funding under the fire service capital programme and through setting general policy.

The Department approved in principle an application from Longford County Council to construct a fire station in Lanesboro in July 2008. The Council is also seeking to progress an extension to the fire station in Longford Town. The Department has requested the Council to rank these projects in order of priority and is awaiting a response in this regard.

A new fire station to be funded under the Department's fire service capital programme is currently under construction at Edgeworthstown in County Longford. Further investment in the fire service in Co Longford will be considered under future capital programmes having regard to the existing facilities, the level of activity, the proximity of other fire stations, the fire authority's priorities and the totality of demands of other fire authorities on the limited funds available under the fire services capital programme.