Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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292. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe for tendering for a new fire station in Tuam, County Galway; when construction will commence and when the fire station will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8948/16]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions 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.

In February 2016, I announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on the current annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to Training Centres.

A fire station project in Tuam is included in this programme under the list of priority projects to be progressed in 2016. In this regard my Department is currently liaising with the relevant local authority so that this project can be progressed. In March 2016, a capital appraisal and detailed cost plan were requested in respect of the project and once these have been completed it will be possible to outline the timeframe for delivery of this project.