Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a timeframe has been established for the new fire station for Tallaght, Dublin. [5741/12]

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 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 emergency equipment as well as construction and upgrading of fire stations.

I am not aware of any suggestion that a new fire station will be provided in Tallaght. In 2011, I indicated that support of € 300,000 from my Department's fire services capital programme would be made available, as an exceptional measure, to supplement a similar level of funding announced by Dublin City Council to upgrade facilities at the current Tallaght fire station. I expect this sum to be drawn down in 2012.

Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as a key national priority, given the current constraints on public finances. In order to deliver cost efficiencies in line with recommendations of the Local Authority Efficiency Review Group, following the development of an agreed national fire appliance specification, a programme is currently underway which involves fire authorities aggregating demand and inviting tenders for 17 fire appliances.

Further support from my Department's fire services capital programme for any fire station projects, including further upgrades in relation to Tallaght Fire Station, will be considered within the constraints of available resources and will have regard to local authorities' priorities, the value for money offered by proposals and the totality of requests from fire authorities.