asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the measures taken to implement the recommendations of the working party on the fire services.
660.
Written Answers. - Fire Services.
655.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will state in regard to the fire services the action he proposes to take in respect of each of the following: (1) fire resources; including premises and equipment; (2) fire prevention measures; (3) legislation; (4) staffing and training requirements; and (5) financial provision.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 660 together.
While the Report on the Fire Service was published without Government commitment, the recommendations of the majority report have in general been acted upon. Fire authorities carried out reviews to assess the strength and adequacy of their fire services as recommended by the report and were recently requested to carry out a further assessment. Capital investment in fire stations and equipment has been substantially increased and a 50 per cent subsidy on loan repayments has been introduced. The Fire Services Act, 1981, has been in force since January 1982. This Act concentrated fire functions in county councils, county borough corporations and a small number of urban authorities, improved the powers of fire authorities in relation to fire fighting, emergencies, fire safety and inspections, placed statutory obligations on persons having control over premises to which the public have access and empowered the Minister to establish a Fire Services Council. A number of guidelines have been published with the aim of promoting standardisation and greater efficiency. Central training courses to supplement local training activity have been arranged by the Department and that programme is currently being expanded. The need for improved telecommunications facilities in the fire service is being examined. The Fire Prevention Council was established in 1978.
The recommendations of the majority report and the five minority reports contained some fundamental differences on important personnel issues, including recruitment and reporting relationships. Efforts to secure acceptable solutions on these issues through the relevant conciliation machinery, although hindered for a long time by differences between staff interests, have resulted in a conciliation agreement covering the introduction of a new senior staff structure for the county fire service and certain consequential arrangements. The finalisation of certain other matters, such as the provision of appropriate educational facilities and the reporting arrangements of chief fire officers, which are covered in the conciliation agreement, is being pursued in co-operation with the relevant staff interests.
It is my intention to maintain capital investment at the level required to ensure that fire stations and equipment are adequate to meet the demands placed upon the fire service. As I announced in my Estimates speech I am going ahead with the establishment of the Fire Services Council. This body will play an important role in the provision of central training and in the preparation of draft regulations, codes of practice, guidelines and standards relating to fire safety and other fire matters. In the legislative area, I will shortly be introducing a Bill which will provide a statutory basis for the making of building regulations and for their administration and implementation. My Department is at present preparing regulations relating to fire safety in places of public assembly. The operation of the Fire Services Act, 1981, will also be kept under review.