Written answers

Tuesday, 21 January 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Fire Service Issues

Photo of Seán KennySeán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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438. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding to replace the breathing apparatus within Dublin Fire Brigade as a number of firefighters have reported serious safety issues with the breathing apparatus over the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2528/14]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The provision of a fire service, including the provision of fire fighting and emergency equipment, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities as set out in the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy 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 equipment.

My Department, through the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, engages on an on-going basis with fire authorities to assist them in meeting their statutory responsibilities while also complying with the requirements of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

There are a number of initiatives to ensure that persons working in fire services are properly equipped and trained, have appropriate procedures and are supervised so that, in so far as is reasonably practicable, their safety at work is ensured and local authorities comply with the relevant legislative requirements. My Department has published National Guidance to assist fire authorities to provide consistent and safe training in the use of breathing apparatus. In this regard, The Use of Breathing Apparatus in the Fire Service ( 2007) and Guidance on the Provision and Assessment of Breathing Apparatus Training (2010) are both available on my Department’s website at .

Also, as part of the national policies for the future direction of fire services set out in Keeping Communities Safe (KCS), which was published in February 2013, a "Managing Safety in Fire Services” support document is being developed as part of the KCS implementation process to ensure that occupational health and safety in fire services is fully aligned with recently adopted local government Safety Management System policy.

I understand that Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) has an investigation under way to examine the latest reported incidents involving breathing apparatus in use, and has kept the Health and Safety Authority briefed on reported incidents.  Pending completion of the investigation, it would be premature to consider replacement of standard equipment which complies with relevant international standards. Although replacement equipment is not generally funded through the capital programme, there are no outstanding requests currently with my Department from the City Council for additional fire appliances or fire fighting equipment.

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