asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures if he is aware that in some parts of Dublin persons voluntarily organising fire-watching and fire-fighting schemes are not meeting with the co-operation necessary to the success of those schemes, and if he will take steps to make fire-watching compulsory, at least in business and industrial premises in congested areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fire-Watching.
asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures if he will grant official recognition to organisations of fire-watchers and fire-fighters by the issue of a badge or armlet which will entitle the wearer access to the scene of a fire to carry out his work; if, further, he will issue to them protective helmets and other essential equipment.
I propose to take questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
I am not aware of any instances in which persons voluntarily organising fire-watching and fire-fighting schemes have not met with the co-operation necessary to the success of those schemes. I have, in fact, been lately considering the question of making fire-watching and fire-fighting compulsory in business and industrial premises in certain areas. My Department has had various discussions with the representatives of numerous business interests in Dublin and as a result a scheme of organisation has been devised which will provide for the needful co-ordination of individual effort and the necessary control of the fire-watching and fire-fighting services. It is proposed that these services shall be organised within Air Raid Precaution areas, under the immediate control of the area officers and under the ultimate control of the chief officer of the fire brigade. Quite a good deal of progress has been made by many individual firms in Dublin City and the warden service have been very active in their efforts to develop this service. They, too, have made much progress in the matter but unfortunately their efforts have been met with a good deal of apathy on the part of the public and with a certain amount of antagonism. This apathy and antagonism have been factors that have led me to the consideration of resorting to compulsory measures.
I have under consideration the question of the issue of some form of identification to members of organisations of fire-watchers and fire-fighters so as to facilitate the holders in passing through cordons en route to or from the premises or area in which they are engaged in fire-watching. For this purpose I propose to issue an identification card to each member of any such organisation and to issue badges and armlets to individual firms for the use of their employees actually on duty as fire-watchers and fire-fighters.
I do not propose to issue protective helmets or other equipment to such persons. It is the duty of every member of the State to take all such steps and to obtain all such equipment as he possibly can for the protection of his home and business premises. It is hoped that firms who are suppliers of fire-fighting equipment will, in the very near future, be able to put on sale all the protective helmets needed. The State has already supplied extensive fire-fighting equipment to the Dublin Corporation and other local authorities to enable them to cope with major fires. In addition, the State has provided in Dublin at each Warden's Post small but effective fire-fighting appliances with which incendiary bombs and minor local fires can be dealt with.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, does he really think that, at the present moment, any useful purpose would be served by making fire-watching service compulsory?
I do not think any useful purpose would be served at the moment by making it compulsory.