Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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1033.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 449 of 12 December 2023, to provide an update on the provision of a new fire station in Rathdowney, County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31149/24]

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 the 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.

At this time, while Laois County Council have indicated their wish to replace Rathdowney Fire Station, they have prioritised the progression of their proposed project for Stradbally Fire Station, which I understand is in the final stages of the tender process. My Department continues to work with Laois County Council to advance work at Stradbally and will reassess the proposals for Rathdowney, along with projects from other fire services, as part of ongoing annual reviews of the Fire Services Capital Programme.