Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the future development of the fire services operated by the local authorities continues to be examined with particular reference to the increasing need to ensure adequate strength, equipment and compliance with modern health and safety requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39320/12]

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 and provision of premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities. My Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management provides support through setting general policy, the provision of training support and guidance on operational and other related matters and capital funding which, over the last decade, has exceeded €180 million. My Department provides capital grants to:

- Construct modern fire stations and for improvement works to existing stations

- Acquire front line fire appliances, (including specialist appliances) and

- Acquire emergency and rescue equipment and communications equipment.

There have been very significant improvements in fire service infrastructure, fleet and equipment in recent years, and Ireland is now acknowledged to have a first rate infrastructure for its fire service.

My Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management is currently developing a policy document called Keeping Communities Safe (KCS) which is intended to set the future direction of fire services in Ireland. The draft policy document seeks to define an integrated approach to efficient fire safety by ensuring an appropriate response to incidents from the fire service while strengthening the service’s role in fire prevention and community fire safety. The KCS document represents the outcome of a wide ranging review of all the activities that go into the provision of fire services – including the roles which fire services should provide for society into the future and having the right structures in place to deliver effective services efficiently. It also looks at finding the right balance between fire prevention, fire protection and response, all of which is underpinned by a risk categorisation approach. The National Directorate has engaged in a round of stakeholder consultation on the draft KCS document, which is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie, and it is intended to finalise the document in the near future.

My Department has been working to assist local authorities in achieving consistent implementation of safety, health and welfare initiatives since the introduction of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work legislation in 2005. The development of an Ancillary Safety Statement Template for Fire Services (2007) and the National Incident Command System (2007) were significant contributions in this area. A national Critical Incident Stress Management programme has been provided for fire services staff. Among the National Directorate’s priorities over the last few years has been the preparation and issuing to all fire authorities of a suite of Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) which cover all aspects of fire service operations, as well as the publication of a range of operational guidance and running an Annual Training Programme for Officers.