Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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494. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding for a new recruitment drive for Dublin Fire Brigade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6725/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Fire services are provided by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. Under section 10 of the 1981 Act, a fire authority is required to make provision for the delivery of fire services in its functional area, including the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises.

In relation to the staffing requirements in each local authority, it is the responsibility of each Chief Executive, under the Local Government Act 2001, to employ such staff and to make such staffing, funding, recruitment and organisational arrangements as may be deemed necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of the local authorities.

My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium on recruitment in relation to local authorities. The Department examines all staffing sanction requests on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests, public safety, maintaining key front line services and economic considerations are given precedence.

Fire-fighter numbers in Ireland have been maintained at a constant level since the introduction of the moratorium in 2009. There are no outstanding staffing sanctions requests in relation to Dublin City Council's fire service.