Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the approved new Waterford City Fire Station will begin construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17240/13]

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.

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.

Proposals for a new fir e station for Waterford City were approved-in-principle under the 2006 fire service capital programme and my Department approved Waterford City Council to progress the project to final design stage in 2010. I understand that the tender process for the firestation is at an advanced stage and that construction work may commence by quarter three of 2013.