Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

641. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when funding which was announced three years ago to provide extra space in Mountrath fire station will be released; when approval will be given to Laois County Council for work to proceed at this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13996/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service 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.

In February 2016, my Department announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on an 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. Upgrade/refurbishment works to Mountrath Fire Station were included as part of this 2016-2020 Capital Programme.

In February 2018, Laois County Council was approved to seek tenders for a fire station upgrade at Mountrath, subject to a maximum Departmental contribution of €130,000.  When a firm tender proposal has been submitted, my Department will continue working with the Council to progress this project. The projects in the capital programme are 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 projects generally.