Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the degree to which part time fire services operated by the local authorities are likely to be provided for in the future in view of the increased awareness of fire safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22495/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Fire services are provided by the 37 statutorily designated fire authorities. 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 Section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981.

The cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford have full-time fire services, and Drogheda and Dundalk have a combined full-time and retained service. Fire services in all other communities are provided by the retained system where, in the event of an emergency call, the relevant group of fire-fighters are alerted, respond to their fire station and turn-out to the incident in their fire appliance. The retained services provide an excellent model of service delivery where, to a substantial degree, a contingent rather than continuous capability is required.

The national blueprint for the future development of the fire services, including improvements in efficiency and effectiveness, is set out in the Irish Fire Services National Development Framework 2010 – 2015. The Framework sets out key actions in the areas of Fire Services Role in Society; National Processes and Guidance on Standards; Staff Learning and Development; Quality Assurance Systems and Reporting Performance; and Service Infrastructure and legislative support. The Framework was developed and approved under the aegis of the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, which is also managing the implementation of its actions.

The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management is currently engaged in stakeholder consultation with a priority project titled "Keeping Communities Safe". It sets out an integrated approach to efficient fire safety in Ireland through achieving an appropriate balance between prevention of fires, having appropriate fire protection facilities in place in buildings and through appropriate and effective fire brigade response. The draft policy proposes guidance and standards for fire service delivery underpinned by a risk categorisation approach which matches identified risks with the appropriate prevention and response.

Following stakeholder consultation, it is intended that the finalised policy document will be completed by the end of summer 2012. "Keeping Communities Safe" will then be circulated to all fire authorities for implementation. I expect that each fire authority will review its approach to fire safety in light of the guidance and recommendations in the document, and plan for any adjustments in current arrangements in the period 2012 - 2015. The "Keeping Communities Safe" draft document is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie via the "Public Consultations" link which can be found on the home page under the heading "Popular Topics and Quicklinks".