Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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264. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will clarify a matter (details supplied) regarding fire safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29221/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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While Fire authorities have powers under the Fire Services Act, 1981 and 2003 to carry out inspections of some premises such as hotels and the common areas of flat complexes, section 18(2) of the Act prescribes that the person having control over premises “take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on such premises, and to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire."

It should be noted that premises occupied as a single dwelling are specifically excluded from the general obligations with regard to fire safety, as well as the inspection and enforcement provisions, in Part III of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. However, the provisions of this legislation are generally taken as applicable in dwellings within multi-unit developments or mixed-use buildings.

Local authorities have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Building Control Act 1990 and the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, all of which may be relevant in relation to fire safety arrangements in residential buildings, other than those specifically excluded. Details in relation to inspections and notices issued by fire services up to 2015 are available on my Department's website at the link below; 2016 information should be available shortly.

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There is no limitation on who can make a call for assistance to 999/112 from any of the Emergency Services, should it be required. The caller should provide as much information as possible, listening and carefully following the advice being given by the call takers, who are trained for that purpose. In some cases a monitored Automatic Fire Alarm system may be in place, however this is not a mandatory requirement.

In response to the recent tragedy at Grenfell Tower in London, I have requested that each local authority be asked, as a matter of urgency, to review their multi-storey social housing units to ensure that all early warning systems, including alarm and detection systems and means of escape including corridors, stairways and emergency exits are in place and fully functional. Life safety must be our first concern.

In terms of raising awareness across landlords, including landlords of households in receipt of social housing supports and rental assistance, I have requested that the Residential Tenancies Board be asked to notify all landlords of their responsibilities and obligations as landlords in terms of ensuring that their properties fully comply with fire safety requirements.

In order to remind builders, assigned certifiers, designers and owners of their obligations in relation to compliance with the Building Regulations, I have also requested that a notification be issued to all registered users (approx. 52,000) through the Building Control Management System (BCMS).

Although there are no apartment blocks in Ireland comparable to Grenfell Tower, all householders, regardless of the type of accommodation they live in, are urged to take the basic but most effective fire safety precaution of ensuring that their family’s home is protected with working smoke alarms. I have also emphasised the fire safety responsibilities of management companies more generally in control of multi-occupancy buildings and urged them to satisfy themselves that the arrangements in place are appropriate and safe.