Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the progress of an application submitted by Offaly County Council for the provision of a new fire station and ancillary facilities at Clara, County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6718/23]

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, fire risks, etc.);

- established Health and Safety needs;

- state of development of the project (is site 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 twelve new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of thirty-five new fire engines.

Any proposal received by the Department requesting further support from the Fire services capital programme is considered with regard to national priorities and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide.

Project consideration stages in my Department include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of site; application for approval in principle; appointment of design consultants; submission of a preliminary design; planning application; submission of preliminary cost plan, detailed design and cost plans; and tender process and construction stages - each step subject to approval from my Department.

Offaly County Council is currently liaising closely with my Department on extension and upgrade works to the Tullamore Breathing Apparatus Training Centre at the Tullamore Central Fire station.

Offaly County Council has previously indicated that the replacement of Clara Fire Station is a priority going forward. While this project is not currently included in my Department's construction programme, all projects in the capital programme will be reassessed on an annual basis to maximise available capital programme funding and priority may be adjusted to bring forward projects offering best value-for-money and to take account of the state of readiness of the projects.