asked the Minister for Local Government whether any arrangements have been made for the provision of additional emergency fire services in the Cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway and other towns; and, if so, what arrangements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emergency Fire Services.
Major de Valera
My approach, and that of my predecessors, to the question of fire fighting services has been to have them organised on a permanent basis and not as emergency or war-time services. Considerable progress has been made along these lines since the Fire Brigades Act was passed in 1940. In addition to the services in the county boroughs, chief fire officers have been appointed in a number of counties to organise and co-ordinate the services on a county basis. Much advance has already been made in the training of local fire brigades in all areas. In addition to new equipment purchased by the fire brigade authorities, the Department of Defence has been able to make available to these authorities substantial supplies of fire-fighting appliances previously maintained by that Department for emergency purposes.