Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a full review of fire services is to be undertaken nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28494/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Much has been accomplished in the past decade to strengthen the fire services in Ireland. Substantial financial resources, provided to local authorities, have resulted in a quality fire and rescue infrastructure throughout the country. Most of our fire stations have full facilities, the appliance fleet is in very good shape and equipment is generally regarded as top class.

Our emergency management arrangements, with the production of a new Framework for Major Emergency Management and the implementation of the Major Emergency Development Programme 2006-2008 , are in line with international best practice, and were widely acknowledged to have been fundamental in ensuring effective response to the Cork Airport tragedy and during the severe weather emergencies in January and December 2010. A range of other measures have been introduced. Fire safety legislation was strengthened in 2003, with increased powers for fire prevention officers. A series of initiatives has been developed under a community fire safety programme, including a domestic smoke alarm campaign, and a Primary Schools Programme.

An integrated risk based approach to emergency management has been developed and piloted in a number of counties. This is being made available to ensure service managers in local authorities have access to appropriate information to enable them to decide on the effective deployment and use of resources and to ensure that an appropriate balance between prevention, protection and response measures is achieved.

Health, safety and welfare initiatives have also been progressed, with the preparation of an Ancillary Fire Services Safety Statement, the development of a National Incident Command system and the preparation of a suite of Standard Operational Guidance for the fire services activities. There are comprehensive Occupational Health Systems in the retained fire services, and Critical Incident Stress Management services have been made available to staff in all fire authorities.

Looking ahead, the national blueprint and programme for developing and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Fire Services is set out in the recently agreed Irish Fire Services National Development Framework 2010-2015 available on my Department's website www.environ.ie. The Framework sets out policies and key actions in the areas of Fire Services Role in Society; National Processes and Standards; Staff Learning and Development; Quality Assurance Systems and Reporting Performance; and Service Infrastructure and Legislative Support.

The Framework was prepared by my Department's National Directorate which is also managing the implementation of its actions through close working with its Management Board and Consultative Committee, which ensures that all key stakeholders, including staff representatives, are involved. Discussion documents on implementing aspects of the Framework are in the course of preparation as part of the National Directorate's remit. Given the progress which has been made, and that the current arrangements are working satisfactorily, I have no plans to conduct a full review of fires services in Ireland.