Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding to Dublin City Council to purchase a foam tender for Dublin Fire Brigade in view of the fact that currently DFB is without a foam tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45417/12]

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 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.

My Department paid a total of €328,938 grant-aid to Dublin City Council, the final instalment in 2008, in relation to provision of a new Foam Tender. No other proposal in relation to funding for a new Foam Tender for Dublin Fire Brigade has been received.

The current priority for capital funding is supporting the national fire appliance fleet. Dublin Fire Brigade was allocated 2 new appliances under the 2011 Capital Programme. Following agreement of the specification for these Class B fire tender appliances, Dublin City Council are currently undergoing the tender process in relation to their acquisition.

Further investment in the fire service in Dublin will be considered within the current constraints on the fire service capital programme and having regard to the fire authority’s priorities, the spread of existing facilities and the totality of demands from fire authorities nationwide.