Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will intervene in respect of the delay in finalising arrangements for major development works at the Fire Station on Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24; if he appreciates the urgent need for progress on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5905/13]

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. Dublin Fire Brigade provides the fire service for the four Dublin local authorities – Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin County Councils.

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 approved construction projects and the purchase of fire appliances and equipment. The current priority for capital funding is supporting the national fire appliance fleet, in respect of which Dublin Fire Brigade has been approved for two new appliances which are currently in the tender process.

A proposal to extend Tallaght fire station was approved in principle in 2006 under the Fire Services Capital Programme. However, given the current constraints on public finances it has been necessary, in keeping with other reductions, to reduce the fire service capital allocations in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Accordingly, my Department is not in a position at present to fund the significant investment, circa €3 million, to progress the extension of Tallaght Fire Station from the fire services capital programme.

As an alternative, in light of the business case made by Dublin City Council in August 2011, my Department approved in principle grant-aid of €300,000 to supplement funding committed by the Council in respect of necessary and urgent works at the fire station. These necessary upgrading works were completed during 2012 and grant-aid of €300,000 was paid by my Department in respect of this.