Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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270. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the construction of the Kilmacthomas fire station will commence in view of the fact that it is due to commence in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40282/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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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 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. This programme includes a provision for the construction of sixteen new builds and ten fire station upgrade/ refurbishments.

A new fire station at Kilmacthomas is provided for in this Fire Services Capital Programme, with an indicative date for construction in 2019. My Department will work with the local authority to progress this project in line with the indicative 2019 start envisaged in the Capital Programme.