John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of a new fire station (details supplied) including the stage it is at and when construction will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18913/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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.

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, the list of priority projects to be progressed will be kept under review on an annual basis.

The project referred to in the Question is included in this programme under the list of priority projects to be progressed for 2018. My Department is liaising with relevant local authorities to progress proposed projects in this programme within the indicated timescales. 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.