Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 362: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the correct pass mark to be obtained in the breathing apparatus training course undertaken by fire fighters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30984/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The training of fire service personnel is the statutory duty of individual fire authorities under the Section 15.1 of the Fire Services Act 1981. Fire authorities provide initial recruit training, as well as training in the use of breathing apparatus to an agreed national syllabus, for all entrants to the fire service. My Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management provides a Central Training Programme for fire officers which complements and supplements local training programmes through a 'Train-the-Trainer' model.

My Department has published National Guidance to assist fire authorities to provide consistent and safe training in the use of breathing apparatus, which is a basic tool of the firefighter. In this regard, The Use of Breathing Apparatus in the Fire Service (2007) and Guidance on the Provision and Assessment of Breathing Apparatus Training (2010) are both available from my Department's website at www.environ.ie. Initial training in the use of breathing apparatus provides firefighters with the necessary skills and knowledge to use breathing apparatus in a competent and safe manner. Fire authorities also provide ongoing training, including refresher training on the use of breathing apparatus, as well as training in response to specialist incident types, such as road traffic accidents, hazardous materials, rescues, etc as appropriate to the hazards in their functional areas.

The approach to establishing breathing apparatus competency is set out in detail in the Guidance on the Provision and Assessment of Breathing Apparatus Training referred to above. Breathing apparatus training involves both instruction to impart knowledge and practical exercises to enable learners to apply the knowledge gained in a series of progressive learning activities. It comprises three separate areas: breathing apparatus wear in scenario based exercises; practical tests, such as user maintenance, and an examination of acquired knowledge, which can be either written or oral. Learners are required to demonstrate competence and knowledge across the range of areas, with marking schemes set out for each. Learners who may be unsuccessful on a first attempt are afforded an opportunity to repeat the training and demonstrate the required competence and knowledge.