Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he expects to be in a position to maintain the fire service, part-time and full-time, throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6169/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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 and 2003.

My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy, the provision of training support, the issue of guidance on operational and other related matters, and through the provision of capital funding. The national blueprint for further developing and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of fire services is set out in the Irish Fire Services National Development Framework 2010 - 2015, which is available on my Department's website at 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.

Implementation of the Framework is being managed through my Department's National Directorate working closely with its Management Board and the local authorities who provide the services.