Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 May 1993

Vol. 431 No. 3

Written Answers. - Low Fire-Risk Farm Buildings.

Enda Kenny

Question:

34 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will have arrangements made for the Farm Development Service of his Department to draw up new specifications for low fire-risk farm buildings, such as steel and concrete livestock units with slatted floors, in order to avoid the high costs of complying with building control regulations designed for other types of buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Phil Hogan

Question:

53 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will have arrangements made for the Farm Development Service of his Department to draw up new specifications for low fire-risk farm buildings, such as steel and concrete livestock units with slatted floors, in order to avoid the high costs of complying with building control regulations designed for other types of buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

65 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will have arrangements made for the Farm Development Service of his Department to draw up new specifications for low fire-risk buildings, such as steel and concrete livestock units with slatted floors, in order to avoid the high costs of complying with building control regulations designed for other types of buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 53 and 65 together.

Virtually every specification issued by the Farm Development Service of my Department gives details of low fire-risk construction for farm buildings, specifying concrete floors, tanks, slats and walls together with structural steel frames and roofs of cement-fibre sheets or metal cladding. Many of these specifications give low-risk construction as the only grant-aidable option. However for other buildings, including many types of animal house, timber construction is also an option for those who wish to choose it. The buidings use mature Irish timber, and its right that farmers can choose this option.

It should be noted that the building control regulations are concerned only with the safety of people within buildings and not the preservation of the buildings themselves. Because of very low occupancy, low fire-risk construction and easy escape routes, the risk to life from fire in farm buildings is exceptionally low.

It is precisely because of this very low risk that my Department has been in consultation with the Department of the Environment for some months to seek modifications to the building control regulations as they apply to farm buildings. Our mutual aim is to ensure the continuance of high building standards combined with the minimum necessary control and regulation.