Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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546. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding fire regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53090/17]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 assign responsibility for fire safety in premises of all kinds, other than dwellings occupied as a single dwelling, to the 'person having control' over premises to 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. Further, section 18(3) of the Acts provides that it “shall be the duty of every person, being on premises to which section 18 of the Acts applies, to conduct himself in such a way as to ensure that as far as is reasonably practicable any person on the premises is not exposed to danger from fire as a consequence of any act or omission of his”.

Standards for the design and construction of buildings, including fire safety standards, are regulated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014 and the primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations, including fire safety, rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings.

As outlined above, the State regulates fire safety responsibility through its Building Control legislation and Fire Services Acts and associated regulations. A range of enabling powers, including extensive powers of inspection and enforcement, are provided for local authorities under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014 and the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003.

Fire safety is achieved through the “Prevent, Protect, Respond” paradigm which is part of an overall fire risk management approach. Local authorities provide a range of services aimed at enhancing fire safety in their communities by preventing fires from happening in the first instance, and ensuring appropriate fire protection measures are in place in buildings, in addition to providing an operational response.

The fire prevention/protection work falls into two categories known as Community Fire Safety and Technical Fire Safety. Community Fire Safety involves fire authorities working in partnership with relevant agencies and the community sector to provide safety measures such as domestic smoke alarms for those perceived as most vulnerable to fire in the home. It also includes the Primary Schools Program whereby every third class in primary school receives age-appropriate education on fire safety issues. The shift of emphasis to Community Fire Safety is seen as contributing to the overall downward trend in fire fatalities which reached a 40 year record low in 2016. In relation to the Technical fire safety work, local authority fire services review and make recommendations in relation to applications for Fire Safety Certificates under Building Control legislation. They also provide the fire safety input under various licensing systems. They undertake inspection programmes in accordance with their established priorities (such as nursing homes) and they respond to complaints about fire safety in specific premises, using the various enforcement powers as appropriate.

In April 2016, my Department published the report of the first External Validation process undertaken in relation to local authority fire services including fire safety, which was titled "Local Delivery - National Consistency". This report is available on my Department's website at the following link: .

In response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June this year and in recognition of fears expressed for fire safety, on 27 June 2017, my Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management was tasked with convening and coordinating a high-level Task Force to lead Ireland’s re-appraisal of fire safety. The Task Force is reviewing existing arrangements and systems for fire safety and related issues which impact on fire safety in Ireland. As it carries out its work, the Task Force is taking into account information and developments arising in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire.

In addition to establishing the Task Force, local authorities were requested to undertake a number of initial actions and the Task Force was requested to oversee and report on a review of fire safety in both social housing and fire safety in medium to high rise buildings. This initial work has been carried out and all local authorities have reported back to my Department as requested. The Fire Safety Task Force  is analysing the returns received currently and is preparing an initial report which I expect to be submitted by early January 2018.