Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1532. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of funding for fire stations (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15415/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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In February 2016, my Department 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.

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.

An upgrade of Killarney fire station is provided for in the five-year programme as the priority project in Kerry.  Updated project documentation, including a capital appraisal and detailed cost plan, was received in my Department in March 2017, indicating a total project cost of €498,500.  In April 2017, my Department approved Kerry County Council to proceed to tender for the proposed works.  A firm tender proposal is awaited from the Council, and on receipt of same my Department will progress this project to the next stages with the Council.

Approval was granted to Kerry County Council to proceed to planning stage for a new fire station in Kenmare under the 2008 Capital Programme.  It is understood that planning permission was granted. The Council was notified in 2009 that, in light of budgetary constraints, there was limited scope to progress the project. My Department has had no further communication from the Council regarding this project.

My Department has not received any funding request from Kerry County Council regarding refurbishment of Listowel fire station.