Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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209. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the long-awaited new fire station for Dunleer, County Louth; the location and details of the development; the key project expected timelines; the total number of staff expected to be employed once complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59971/22]

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 equipment and priority infrastructural projects.

In December 2020, I announced a new Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the,

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

- established Health and Safety needs;

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

- value for money offered by the proposal.

This new Programme will see 6 new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further 12 new fire stations, 9 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.

A new fire station at Dunleer is provided for in this Capital programme. Louth County Council have been approved by my Department to tender for a design team and progress this project to full design and cost plan stage. Louth County Council are working to finalise the acquisition of an appropriate site. Upon final confirmation of site acquisition, Louth County Council will move quickly through the necessary phases to progress the construction of a new station for Dunleer. My Department will continue to work with Louth County Council to progress the Dunleer fire station project.

The provision of Fire Services by local authorities is based on a risk management approach of Area Risk Categorisation which involves an analysis of the nature of the fire hazards and the incidence and extent of fires which occur, as well as the fire protection measures in place. It is a matter for the Chief Executive of each individual local authority that adequate and appropriate provision of fire services are provided, guided by the principles of Area Risk Categorisation as laid out in the "Keeping Communities Safe" policy document.

In relation to the staffing requirements in each local authority, under the Local Government Act 2001, it is the responsibility of each Chief Executive to employ such staff and to make such staffing, funding, recruitment and organisational arrangements as may be deemed necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of their local authority.