Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Dublin City Manager briefed him on the €500 fire services call out charge; if he gave Dublin City Council approval to charge for calling out Dublin Fore Brigade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11812/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Local authorities are permitted, under statute, to charge fees in relation to the services they provide. I do not have any role in approving or consenting to the levying of such charges.

Most fire authorities have had charges in place for their fire brigade services for many years. In the case of Dublin, I understand that additional charges were introduced in respect of fire service responses in the four Dublin local authorities in 2012, and that the money recouped through charges for services is only a small proportion of the overall cost of providing fire services. The full costs of the services are met by the local authorities through a range of income sources, including commercial rates, charges for services to commercial properties, Government grants and subsidies, the household charge and the charge on non-principal private residences.

In many cases, the householder/premises owners are covered for recouping charges for attendance of the fire brigade at incidents such as house fires, road traffic accidents and hay barn fires from relevant home, motor, and farm insurance policies.

Most fire authorities operate waiver schemes in respect of call-out charges; each case is considered on its merits, and partial waivers and deferred payment options are considered as appropriate.