Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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869. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of requests received over the previous seven years from a local authority (details supplied) in County WIcklow seeking sanction to develop a new fire station or replace an older station; if he sees any capital funding being made available in the near future for fire stations in the local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37023/13]

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.

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.

In relation to support for Wicklow County Council, new fire stations have been opened in Arklow, Blessington and Wicklow in recent years. Wicklow County Council was also approved to purchase Exhaust Extraction systems for Bray, Blessington, Carnew, Rathdrum, Baltinglass, Dunlavin, Greystones and Wicklow fire stations in August 2012, the cost of which was reimbursed to the Council in May 2013.

In 2006, my Department approved-in- principle the provision of new fire stations at Baltinglass and Rathdrum. My Department also received a request in February 2007 regarding a new fire station in Dunlavin. It has not been possible to progress these projects in recent years.

Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as a key national priority for the available capital funds. Further support from my Department’s fire services capital programme for any fire appliances, equipment or fire station projects will be considered within the constraints of available resources and will have regard to local authorities’ priorities, the value for money offered by proposals and the totality of requests from fire authorities.