asked the Minister for Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that all fire officers throughout the country are given special instructions and assistance to ensure that all dance halls in their areas have full fire safety precautions and procedures in operation at all times.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dance Hall Fire Precautions.
118.
I am satisfied that local authority fire officers are generally aware of their powers and responsibilities in relation to the fire safety precautions which should be observed for dance halls and that they operate the relevant procedures as necessary.
The Minister will appreciate that this is an important point in view of the recent tragedy as reported in the newspapers. Can the Minister state if the recommendations are complied with?
Yes, there are regular inspections.
I know of a case where recommendations were made but were not followed up. This was not in regard to a dance hall but concerned an office building.
I am afraid I do not know what the Deputy is talking about. The officers are carrying out their duties in a most satisfactory manner. I have difficulty in understanding Deputy O'Connell's question. Is he referring to a specific case?
I asked the Minister if recommendations are followed up. Recommendations were made in one case. It concerned an office building and related to fire hazards. However, nobody returned to see if the recommendations were complied with.
The Deputy comes into this House with extraordinary information. As a good citizen he should report all these matters to the proper authority.
I am merely saying that recommendations were made. A recommendation is completely different from saying that something must be done.
The recommendations of the fire officer are normally included in the consideration given to the application for planning permission for any new building. They are adhered to very strictly, as recent cases that hit the headlines would indicate.