Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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239. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when he will grant funding to redevelop the old and outdated Ballyshannon fire station, given that this is a priority for Donegal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15520/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, 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, the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service 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.

Donegal County Council, in partnership with my Department, has made substantial progress in modernising fire stations in Co Donegal and has replaced 12 of the 15 fire stations following investment of some €11 million by my Department over the last decade or so. The following towns in County Donegal are now served by modern fire stations with full facilities: Millford (1998); Buncrana (2000); Letterkenny (HQ) and An Fal Carrach (both in 2003); Carndonagh and Donegal Town (both in 2004); Killybegs (2005); An Clochan Liath, Glenties and Moville (all in 2007); and most recently Gaoth Dobhair and Stranorlar (2009). My Department has channelled significant investment to fire authorities over the last number of years and as a consequence, the high quality of Ireland’s fire service infrastructure is now widely acknowledged.

My Department recently 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. Under this programme, local authorities will bring forward sixteen new-build fire station projects and ten fire stations are to be upgraded. The projects in the capital programme will be reassessed on an annual basis and priority may be adjusted to bring forward projects offering best value-for-money and to take account of the state of readiness of the projects.

With regard to the provision of a new fire station in Ballyshannon, this issue has been the subject of discussions with the Local Authority for a number of years. While this station is not included in the programme, my Department is liaising with Donegal County Council to look at possibilities for advancing a project in the south of the county, taking into account, among other issues, site suitability, fire cover requirements and prioritisation of projects.

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