Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will provide funding for the construction of new fire stations in Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Gleann Cholm Cille in County Donegal; and if he will provide full details of all other new stations approved nationally in 2011; and the cost associated with each new station. [31778/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports the local fire authorities through setting of general policy, training support and issue of guidance on operational and other related matters, and the provision of capital funding.

Donegal County Council, in partnership with my Department, has made substantial progress in improving its fire service infrastructure and has replaced 12 of the 15 fire stations following investment of some €11 million in the past decade under the Department's fire service capital programme. My Department has supported significant investment by fire authorities over the past decade and as a consequence, Ireland's fire service infrastructure is now acknowledged to be first rate. Approval issued to Longford County Council in February 2011 to invite tenders in respect of a new fire station in Lanesboro. I expect that new fire station projects funded by my Department will be opened in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford and Monaghan Town shortly.

I have already indicated that continued investment in the fire appliance fleet is a key national priority measure. In that context fire authorities are currently inviting tenders in respect of 16 fire appliances in accordance with a national specification.

Any further investment in fire services in Donegal will be considered within the current constraints on the fire services capital programme and will have regard to the priorities of fire authorities, the extent of previous investment and value offered by the proposals, the spread of existing facilities and the totality of demands from fire authorities countrywide.