Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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556. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans for the relocation and redevelopment of Muine Bheag fire station. [17315/19]

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 an annual allocation of €8 million, 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. Muinebeag Fire Station is included in the programme of ten fire stations for upgrading within the Programme. My Department continues to work with the Council in progressing this project and is awaiting design documents from the Council  for the upgrading work to be undertaken.

The projects in the capital programme are reassessed on an annual basis and priority may be adjusted to take account of the state of readiness of projects generally and to bring forward projects offering best value-for-money.