Written answers

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Fire Safety

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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630. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of occupied properties in County Dublin that have fire safety notices; the address and date of issue of the fire safety notice for each property; the immediate measures his Department will be taking to make these tenants and buildings safe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30011/17]

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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632. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which a fire safety notice can be issued on a property for almost one year while persons still occupy the building and no remedial works had taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30013/17]

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 630 and 632 together.

Under the Fire Services Acts of 1981 and 2003 local authorities are designated as fire authorities.

Section 20 of the 1981 Act provides that the appropriate fire authority may serve a Fire Safety Notice on the owner or occupier of any building which appears to the authority to be a potentially dangerous building. Section 20(2)(a) of the Act provides that a Fire Safety Notice in relation to a building may prohibit the use of a building or part of a building for any of the purposes specified in the notice. Section 20(2)(b) of the Act provides that a Fire Safety Notice in relation to a building may prohibit the use of the building, or a specified part of the building, for any of the purposes specified in the notice unless or until specified precautions are taken to the satisfaction of the fire authority; whether by the provision in the building of specified appliances or fittings or by the execution of specified structural alterations or additions to the building, or by the removal from the building of furniture, furnishings, fittings or any other material or thing, or by the doing in relation to the building or its contents of any other thing whatsoever.

Section 20(6) of the Act provides that a Fire Safety Notice may specify a time-frame under which remedial actions, such as those set out above, must be completed. Failure to comply with the requirements of a Fire Safety Notice is an offence under the Act and any person found guilty may be subject to a range of penalties as set out in the Act.

Section 20(8) of the Act provides that each fire authority shall keep at its offices a register of Fire Safety Notices served by it and the register shall be open to inspection by any person at all reasonable times. Information on the details of Fire Safety Notices served by local authorities are not held by my Department but may be obtained directly from the relevant local authority.

In an immediate response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, I have requested that a number of specific measures be taken that have implications for tenants and building owners;

- I have requested that all local authorities review their multi-storey social housing units to ensure that all early warning systems, including alarm and detection systems, emergency lighting and means of escape including corridors, stairways and emergency exits are fully functional and in place. 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 asked the Residential Tenancies Board to notify all landlords of their responsibilities and obligations as landlords in terms of ensuring that their properties fully comply with fire safety requirements.

- A Business Control Management System (BCMS) alert was issued to all registered users of the BCMS to remind those involved in works to existing or new buildings of the need to remain vigilant in relation to compliance with the Building Regulations and in particular to Part B Fire Safety. This was issued to 57,000 registered users including builders, assigned certifiers, designers and owners.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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631. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the location to which 20 persons from a location (details supplied) will be moved in view of the evacuation of the property over fire safety concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30012/17]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Under the Fire Services Acts, local authorities are designated as fire authorities and as such may serve a Fire Safety Notice on the owner or occupier of any building which appears to the authority to be a potentially dangerous building. A Fire Safety Notice may specify a time-frame under which remedial actions must be completed and failure to comply with the requirements of a Fire Safety Notice is an offence under the Acts and any person found guilty may be subject to a range of penalties, as set out in the Acts. Information on the details of Fire Safety Notices served by local authorities are not held by my Department but may be obtained directly from the relevant local authority.

In relation to the case cited by the Deputy, I understand that the receiver is making arrangements for both the provision of alternative accommodation and the presence of Fire Marshals, 24 hours a day, at the property in question to monitor any possible issues. Consequently, the issue of the housing authority meeting short-term accommodation requirements or addressing longer-term social housing needs, does not arise.

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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633. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide the safety certificates that his Department has received in respect of funfairs in County Meath in 2016 and to date in 2017. [30052/17]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The number of safety certificates received by my Department in relation to funfairs in County Meath for 2016, and to date in 2017, is set out in the following table.

Due to the voluminous number of certificates, a copy of each certificate is being forwarded under separate cover.

Fairground Safety Certificates - County Meath

YearNumber of Certificates Received
2015 - 201654
2016 - 201762
2017 - 201819

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