Written answers

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Departmental Projects

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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220. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when funding will be provided for a project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44615/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh 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 equipment and priority infrastructural projects.

Recently a new Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m was announced. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station and other works were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:

- Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, local fire risks, etc.);

- established Health and Safety needs;

- state of development of the project (if a site has been acquired?, etc.); and

- value for money offered by the proposal.

This new Programme will see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further 12 new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of 35 new fire engines. In order to maximise the available Capital Programme funding, my Department re-assesses the status of projects in the Programme on an annual basis, and some flexibility is normally available to advance projects that are ready and that offer best value-for-money, taking account of the state of readiness of projects more generally.

In October 2020, grant aid approval was provided to Kerry County Council by my Department for the extension and upgrade works to Killarney Fire station. Subsequently, Kerry County Council have indicated that the original tender could not proceed. Kerry County Council have indicated that the extension and refurbishment works to Killarney Fire station remains their first priority and are now pursuing a new tender process for the required works. The Department will consider any new proposal submitted by Kerry Council for the required works.

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