asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider granting State financial aid to the fire services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fire Services Aid.
12.
State aids for the local authority fire service in the form of loan facilities as well as certain training courses and advisory services are provided at present. Whether any new provision would be appropriate in relation to the operation of the service is a matter which will fall to be considered in due course in the light of the report of the working party which is at present reviewing the service, and, of course, due account will have to be taken of priorities in respect of demands generally on public funds.
In view of the fact that we are now experiencing such things as fire bombs in stores, would the Minister consider it appropriate at this time to give additional State assistance to fire services?
I would rather wait until I get the report of the committee studying it. We will give attention to it as quickly as possible following that.
When was the review committee established?
In Deputy Molloy's time.
Can the Minister give us the date?
I have not that date here.
Can the Minister say why the committee have taken so long to bring forward a report and to conclude their recommendations?
They did not do much in the Deputy's last 12 months.
Does the Minister not agree that in the special circumstances now, in his own judgment, without a report from anybody it is clear that something special must be done? Would the Minister do that something special?
I have already stated that I am awaiting the report of the committee which should not take much longer. In view of the fact that people have been sitting for quite some time considering this matter, it would be most unfair that I should take a decision on my own at this stage.
I should like to ask the Minister if the special circumstances of recent times has been referred to this committee and if they will be reporting on what we are talking about?
The Deputy is trying to get the report of the committee now. I have not read it myself and because of this I am sure that the Deputy does not expect me to give it to him. I cannot tell him what will be in the report until I receive it. I will let the Deputy know the contents of it as soon as possible.
I should like to ask the Minister if any action has been taken on the interim report of this committee.
This interim report did not call for any action.
The fire services are shelved gathering dust since.
They are not. The dust was all swept away when I went in there and there was quite a lot of it after the Deputy.