Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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226. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposal to provide a new fire station in Virginia, County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the estimated costs; when this project is likely to proceed to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3044/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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 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.

A proposal by Cavan County Council to build a new fire station at Virginia was received by my Department in 2000 and approval-in-principle was granted to proceed to the planning stages. The Council submitted costings and design plans during 2000 for consideration by my Department; as new fire station projects at Dowra and Bailieborough were progressing at the time, along with proposals for a new station at Cootehill, the Council was informed that the proposals for Virginia fire station would remain under consideration. Thereafter, there were a number of exchanges of correspondence between the Council and my Department. Most recently, in a letter in January 2013, the Council again requested my Department to consider the proposal, which involves a total project cost of €864,000.

In further considering the proposal, my Department must have regard to national priorities for funding in this area and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide. The priorities of Cavan County Council, the extent of current and previous investment in Cavan Fire Service and the status of existing facilities having regard to area risk categorisation, will also fall to be considered.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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227. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposal to provide a new fire station in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the estimated costs; when this project is likely to proceed to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3045/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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 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.

Correspondence has been received in my Department from Cavan County Council in relation to proposals for works at Ballyjamesduff Fire Station and these are currently under consideration.

The proposals for works at Ballyjamesduff can only be considered in the context of national priorities for funding in this area and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide. The priorities of Cavan County Council, the extent of current and previous investment in Cavan Fire Service, the value for money offered by proposals and the status of existing facilities having regard to area risk categorisation, will also fall to be considered.