Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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233. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the extension of the fire station at Bypass Road, Killarney, will be prioritised for emergency reasons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28399/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department, earlier this year, 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, sixteen new-build fire stations are to be provided and ten fire stations are to be upgraded.

An upgrade of Killarney fire station is provided for in the current five-year programme. Project documentation, including contract documents and a cost plan, were received in my Department in 2015, indicating a total project cost of €440,000. My Department is liaising with Kerry County Council to progress the Killarney project as a priority as part of this programme. A capital appraisal of the project from Kerry County Council has been requested and is awaited.

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.