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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Jul 1972

Vol. 262 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fire Services.

158.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the spate of fires recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

159.

asked the Minister for Local Government the amount of money spent in 1971 by his Department on fire protection literature.

160.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the operation of the new Fire Protection Act, 1971, in Britain; and if he will review existing legislation in the Republic in this context.

161.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he has considered the rationalisation of the fire services on a regional basis within the Republic.

162.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the successful operation of the comprehensive Fire Services Act, 1969, in Northern Ireland; and if he will review current legislation in the Republic in this context.

163.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the structure and functions of the current Northern Ireland Fire Authority and the recommendations of the McRory Committee for an expanded authority; and if he will consider setting up a similar authority for the Republic.

164.

asked the Minister for Local Government why no nationally agreed standard for fire prevention and fire fighting equipment has been introduced.

165.

asked the Minister for Local Government why no nationally agreed fire precautions standards have been introduced by his Department.

166.

asked the Minister for Local Government why a nationally agreed standard of training for firemen has not been introduced.

167.

asked the Minister for Local Government if the Government has any proposals before it to amend the Fire Brigades Act, 1940.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 158-167 together.

I would remind the Deputy that the replies to previous questions, including No. 145 on 8th June, and No. 53 on 28th June, and my statement introducing my Department's Estimate for this year indicated the present position in regard to the fire services and steps being taken to continue their improvement and to review them. However, perhaps it is as well to recapitulate.

The provision and maintenance of the fire services are the responsibility of the local authorities under the Fire Brigades Act, 1940, and my Department's policy has been to encourage and assist the local authorities to secure maximum efficiency. Good progress has been made to date.

In the past ten years improved equipment and stations have been secured at a cost of over £1 million, for which my Department authorised the necessary capital.

Since 1968 my Department have organised a series of basic training and specialised courses for station officers and sub-officers which have proved very successful in providing a corps of instructors to undertake the training of firemen at local level. Fire Brigade authorities were asked to ensure that the services of these instructors are used to the fullest extent in the training of station personnel.

I may mention that, while a new code of building regulations, under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, incorporating fire protection measures is in course of preparation, my Department have issued advisory fire protection standards in 1964 and 1967, containing recommendations, not merely on structural requirements, but also on such matters as fire fighting equipment, means of escape, fire drill and evacuation procedure.

The distribution of fire protection literature is undertaken by the Fire Protection Association of Ireland, who distributed it to their members on request.

The main structure of the fire services is being reviewed in the context of local government reorganisation generally, and the review covers the position in relation to fire protection and prevention, publicity and education aspects, the need for and the form of new organisational arrangements and a detailed examination of the 1940 Act to determine whether amending legislation is necessary to strengthen the powers of sanitary authorities, particularly in relation to fire prevention.

The Deputy mentions "a recent spate of fires". Reports on recent fires indicate a wide variety of causes but in all cases the fire brigades performed their duties very efficiently.

Is the Minister aware that there is evidence to connect many of these fires with subversive elements who are out to bring down the State? Surely the Minister is aware that the leader of one of these organisations last year stated that it was their aim to use the bomb and fire to attain their objectives? In view of this, would the Government not take the most serious view and be prepared to meet these elements head-on in the near future?

That is a separate question.

That is not true. This is a lot of scare talk. I will give the facts. As to most of the serious fires which has taken place recently, those where life was lost, I have a report on how these fires were started. There was a fire in Cork, in Fermoy, on 2nd June this year, where lives were lost. That fire started in the kitchen of a private dwellinghouse.

What about the fires in Dublin and Dundalk?

In Clare, there was a fire caused by an electrical connection on a TV set which had been left plugged in. In Mayo there were two serious fires, one in Blacksod where it appears the fire was caused by the fact that gas was left on for a considerable time before being lighted, thereby causing an instant blaze. The other was in Ballyhaunis caused by a storm lamp left beside the bed, which was tipped over and set the bed alight. In Limerick, a fire occurred in a thatched farmhouse, caused by a heater. Two lives were lost.

Tell us about the fires in the business premises in Dublin and the objects that would cause fire which were found afterwards in these buildings, and also in Dundalk recently.

I am referring to the fires where lives were lost.

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