Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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347. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the appointment of consultants to develop the new fire station in Dunleer, County Louth has been agreed to; if so, when the project will progress and commence construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44475/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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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 Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. 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.

A new fire station at Dunleer is included in this Capital Programme. Identification of potential sites, determination of suitability of sites for a fire station and acquisition of an optimal site is being undertaken by Louth County Council. My Department received correspondence on this from the Council on 12 June 2020 and has requested a capital appraisal for the project. On receipt of this my Department will continue to work with the Council to progress this project as expeditiously as possible.