asked the Minister for Local Government if he is satisfied with the adequacy of the present fire-fighting services in the country, with particular reference to the equipment available for fire-fighting and the number of trained personnel for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fire-Fighting Services.
9.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a previous question asked by him on 6th April, 1967, in regard to this matter.
I am satisfied, generally, that sanitary authorities are meeting their obligations under the Fire Brigades Act, 1940, to provide adequate fire-fighting services. This is evidenced by the fact that the annual cost of administering the fire services has increased from £462,784 in 1961-62 to £838,426 in 1965-66—the last year for which complete returns are available. During the same period, the number of trained personnel employed in the fire service has increased from 2,113 to 2,303; 13 new fire stations have been erected at a cost of £65,285; and 40 new fully equipped fire appliances have been acquired at a cost of £137,261. As I previously informed the Deputy, the general question of the fire-fighting arrangements in the country is kept under constant review in my Department, and recommendations for improvements are made to sanitary authorities from time to time if and when inadequacies become apparent.
Can the Minister say if any refresher courses are held and, if so, if they are held on a regular basis? Is it not a fact that a mere increase in cost and in the amount of money spent on the maintenance services is no test of the efficiency of the service and that in fact, except for a few isolated cases where the fire officers concerned have either on their own initiative or on the initiative of the local authorities availed of retraining or refresher courses, there is no general system of refresher courses in operation? Will the Minister, in view of the fact that certain very large fires occurred recently, consider having a full inquiry into the whole method of recruitment and refresher courses?
There is continuous training going on in all the different areas and there is continuous review of the whole fire-fighting service. I do not think that there are any inadequacies in this regard.
Is the Minister not aware that at least two major fires occurred lately, fortunately in the daytime, but had they occurred at night, in the case of one occupied dwelling certainly serious injury and loss of life might have resulted?
That is conjecture. Loss of life could occur in occupied buildings.
Surely in regard to the fire inone building in Dún Laoghaire, the fire in the church, if it had occurred when the building was occupied, there might well have been serious loss of life.
If a fire occurs in an occupied building, there is more likely to be injury than if it occurs in an unoccupied building.
There is no dispute on that. The point I am making is the inability to cope with that fire with the equipment available which in no way reflected on the personnel involved but certainly reflected on the standard of equipment and the water pressure in the area.
Is the Minister not aware that there is a danger of conflagration in a general way, not confined to Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown but in other places, due to the lack of water pressure and that this constitutes a serious danger?
I am not so aware. Inaccurate reports have appeared about this. I am not aware that there is a serious lack of water pressure.
Is the Minister not aware that many complaints reach Dublin Corporation about the lack of water pressure and that this constitutes a serious danger in the case of fire?
Is the Minister not aware that last year his Department held a study of the water supply system and that no fire officer was included in that study?
I am not so aware.