asked the Minister for Local Government the number of fire officers attached to each county; the total number in the country; and if he is satisfied that the present number are sufficient to discharge their duties properly.
72.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fire Safety Precautions.
71.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he considers it necessary to introduce legislation whereby it shall be a condition for the obtaining of a licence for a hall that the applicants produce a certificate of fire insurance when applying.
73.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that there was a fire in Ballyboy Hall, Kilcormac, County Offaly in December 1967; that there were a large number of people injured; if his Department investigated this matter in full in regard to fire safety and if he was satisfied with the standard of fire safety precautions; and if he will make a statement on the matter particularly with regard to his Department's preparing retrospective legislation to compensate the people injured.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 to 73 together.
The first part of the reply to Question No. 71 is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
The strength of the staff of the fire service in any county is a matter for consideration by the local authority concerned in the first instance. The Department have been urging local authorities to intensify their work on fire prevention generally and has encouraged county councils to make additional appointments at the second fire officer level for the purpose as an interim measure. The whole question of fire prevention, and the structure and staffing of the fire service, are among the aspects of the service which are being examined at present by a working party. Decisions on any legislative or other changes needed to improve the service will be taken in the light of the working party's report. My concern with fire matters relates fundamentally to the functions of local authorities and, in particular, to their responsibilities under the Fire Brigades Act, 1940. to make provision for dealing with fires and for the protection of persons and property from fire injury as well as to certain related matters such as the new building regulations which are at present being prepared. It does not extend to questions of insurance or compensation in respect of loss or injury from fire or to the issue of licences under the dance halls legislation. A committee set up by the Minister for Industry and Commerce is at present examining various insurance questions and I understand that their programme will include examination of fire insurance.
In regard to the fire in Kilcormac in 1967, the Department do not normally hold investigations into particular fire incidents: it is seen as the task of the local authority to take whatever steps may be necessary to clarify the circumstances of an outbreak. In this case it is understood that the hall was inspected by the local authority prior to the fire and that the local authority also examined the facts of the fire. As I have explained, the organisation and operation of the fire service are at present being reviewed, and in the meantime local authorities are being urged to increase their fire prevention work and are being facilitated in strengthening their organisations for the purpose.
Following is the statement:
Staff employed in the fire service (counties) for the year ended 31st March, 1972
|
County |
Chief Fire Officers |
Other Officers |
Firemen |
Total |
|
Carlow |
See Kildare |
9 |
24 |
33 |
|
Cavan |
Vacant |
22 |
64 |
36 |
|
Clare |
1 |
15 |
69 |
35 |
|
Cork |
.2 |
54 |
218 |
274 |
|
Donegal |
Vacant |
11 |
70 |
31 |
|
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire |
2 |
100 |
414 |
516 |
|
Galway |
1 |
19 |
78 |
98 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
18 |
71 |
90 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
13 |
41 |
55 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
13 |
58 |
72 |
|
Laois |
Vacant |
18 |
57 |
75 |
|
Leitrim |
See Sligo |
16 |
49 |
65 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
15 |
62 |
78 |
|
Longford |
1 |
8 |
37 |
46 |
|
Louth |
1 |
13 |
38 |
52 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
25 |
111 |
139 |
|
Meath |
1 |
20 |
61 |
82 |
|
Monaghan |
No post |
11 |
32 |
43 |
|
Offaly |
See Laois |
15 |
52 |
67 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
11 |
30 |
42 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
9 |
32 |
42 |
|
Tipperary (NR) |
Vacant |
13 |
52 |
65 |
|
Tipperary (SR) |
1 |
11 |
44 |
56 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
22 |
76 |
99 |
|
Westmeath |
See Longford |
10 |
39 |
49 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
9 |
42 |
52 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
20 |
68 |
89 |
|
TOTALS |
20 |
520 |
1,991 |
2,531 |
The Minister referred to building regulations in course of preparation and these should, I think, be now reaching the final stages. Could he give any indication as to when the new building regulations will be available for adaption by the various local authorities?
I am sorry that I cannot. As the Deputy says, they are fairly well advanced and he can be assured they will be dealt with as quickly as I possibly can get them concluded.
Could the Minister give any indication as to when?
I could not.