John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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263. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if 1916 medals will be presented to those in the Fire Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21762/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The provision of fire services in local authority areas is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy and through a range of service development programmes.

The issuing of 1916 - 2016 commemorative medals was a commitment in ‘A Programme for Partnership Government’ for the Defence Forces, and therefore did not include staff in local authority Fire Services.

However, my Department is commissioning medals in recognition of the role played by staff working in the Fire Services in relation to the 1916 commemorations. It is envisaged that all Fire Services staff serving in April 2016 will be eligible to receive the medal.

A tender process is being undertaken as part of procurement and my Department will be in contact with all fire authorities in relation to this matter in the coming weeks.