Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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485. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason Graignamanagh fire station is the only station that has not received an upgrade, in view of the fact that it was approved in principle as far back as to 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55219/13]

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 and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.

Under the 2008 fire service capital programme, a proposal by Kilkenny County Council to build a new two bay fire station in Grauigenamanagh was approved in principle. The Council was subsequently approved to prepare detailed design and tender documents in relation to the project. These have been received in my Department for consideration.

Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as one of the key national priorities for the fire services capital programme . In that context and in order to deliver cost efficiencies, a programme involving fire authorities aggregating demand and jointly procuring 17 fire appliances is now nearing completion, under which Kilkenny fire and rescue service has received an allocation for a new appliance which is under construction.

Given the constraints on public finances, further support from my Department’s fire services capital programme to replace Grauigenamanagh fire station will have regard to national priorities, the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide, Kilkenny County Council’s priorities, the extent of previous investment in Kilkenny fire service, the value for money offered by proposals and the status of existing facilities having regard to risk categorisation.