Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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597. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the expected timeframe for construction of a new fire station in Charleville, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44741/24]

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 Act 1981 & 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 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;
• value for money offered by the proposal; and
• the totality of requests from all authorities.

In the 2021 – 2025 fire services capital programme Cork County Council prioritised new Fire stations at Kanturk, Macroom and Clonakilty. I had the pleasure to officially open both Kanturk and Macroom fire stations in May and September of 2022 respectively. I understand that significant progress has been made on the new Clonakilty fire station project, which is nearing final completion.

My Department has not received a proposal from Cork County Council for a fire station project for Charleville. Any future capital programme will have regard to Cork County Council’s priorities and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide for funding in considering any proposal.