John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide details of any instructions issued by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management to fire services operating two pumps—which require more than 12 firefighters to function—regarding the implementation of the Workplace Relations Commission Agreement of September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15925/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of a fire service in its functional area is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003 and my Department has not issued any instructions specifically in relation to this matter.

National policy in relation to fire safety is detailed in Keeping Communities Safe, which is based on the internationally-used systemic risk management approach combining fire safety, fire protection in the built environment and fire service response measures.

This policy document provides for each fire service to undertake an Area Risk Categorisation (ARC) process in respect of each of its fire station areas. The outcome of this process enables fire service management to establish a risk grading across very high risk, high risk, medium risk, low risk or very low risk categories.

ARC is a critical tool for ensuring that fire service resources are used effectively and efficiently, and that the safety of the public is prioritised in all communities. By assessing and classifying areas based on defined risk factors, fire services can demonstrate an evidenced based approach to services delivery.