Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons on the reserve list for the fire service in County Meath; the position on the list of a person (details supplied); if the service will be hiring over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37611/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each county and city manager is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. Accordingly, the question raised is a matter for Meath County Council. I understand from the Council, however, that no fire-fighter panel is currently being maintained by the fire authority. My Department considers all staffing sanction requests on a case by case basis, having due regard to the continued delivery of key services and the need to further reduce overall staffing levels and expenditure in the local authority sector.

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, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and guidance, and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to the approved purchase of fire appliances and equipment.