Vol. 479 No. 3
9 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Environment the number of people who died due to fire outbreaks in the home in each of the years from 1993 to 1996; the fire protection strategies, if any, which he proposes to have introduced in the context of building regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12874/97]
33 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for the Environment the number of people who died due to fire outbreaks in the home in each of the years from 1993 to 1996; the fire protection strategies, if any, which he proposes to have introduced in the context of building regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12882/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 33 together.
Information supplied by fire authorities indicates that fatalities from fires in the home attended by fire brigades totalled 48 in 1993; 42 in 1994; and 36 in 1995. Unfortunately, there was an interruption in this downward trend in 1996; the provisional figures indicate a total of 53 fatalities from fire in the home, including seven members of a family who died in one fire.
While the level of fatalities is of great concern, it should be noted that the overall number of fires in domestic buildings has fallen from 16,000 in the early 1990s to 12,500 in 1995, the last year for which complete figures are available.
As regards measures to reduce the risk of fires, the building regulations already set out detailed requirements in relation to the fire precautions to be provided for in the design and construction of dwellings and where material alterations or changes of use are being made. Technical guidance documents which accompany the regulations contain comprehensive guidance on matters such as means of escape, including the provision of smoke alarms, internal and external fire spread, and access and facilities for the fire brigade. Following a review by my Department, I plan to make consolidated building regulations and publish revised technical guidelines as soon as I can. The revised documents will require, in relation to all new dwellings commenced on or after 1 January next, installation of mains operated smoke alarms — this sounds like a small thing but it is very important because so many smoke alarms are battery operated and people simply forget to test them — and provision of windows suitable for use as a secondary means of escape.
In the last analysis, fire safety in the home is the responsibility of the individual householder. Better awareness of the dangers of fire and of fire hazards, together with simple common-sense fire prevention practices, can help to prevent and reduce the number of fires and the consequent tragic fatalities and injuries. Accordingly, the National Safety Council actively encourages fire safety in the home as part of its ongoing fire safety education and publicity campaigns. Particular stress has been placed in recent media campaigns on the routine tasks to be carried out nightly to guard against fire and on the value of smoke alarms which, if properly installed and maintained, can provide early warning of fire and save lives. In addition, local authorities have been asked by my Department to consider the provision of smoke alarms in all their rented accommodation.
As regards the services provided by the fire authorities, improvements have been made on a comprehensive basis in the fire services over recent years.
There were about 30 professional posts in the local fire service prior to 1982, whereas now there are 121 such posts, with a greatly increased emphasis on fire prevention and fire safety.
Capital investment by the State since 1981 has resulted in the provision of over 100 new or reconstructed fire stations, over 320 fire appliances and a wide range of emergency equipment, as well as major improvements in mobilisation and communication systems.
Major improvements have taken place in the training of fire service personnel. Training facilities have been provided at several centres around the country to facilitate the training of brigades locally. To complement this local training, the Fire Services Council has, since 1983, held almost 200 training courses for over 3,000 local fire officers.
A series of codes of practice and guidelines have been issued by my Department in recent years giving advice on fire safety in places of assembly, hotels and guest-houses, flats and apartments, and nursing homes. Work is continuing on the preparation of further guidance.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I am sure the Minister would agree that 53 deaths from fires in homes is a horrific figure. Home ought to be a place where families can be safe and secure. That certainly was not the case where the 53 fatalities occurred.
The Minister mentioned that he is in the course of putting new guidelines in place. He has further spoken of mains operated alarm systems, which is a very good idea. Will it be mandatory, and from what date will it be so, for all housing projects, both in the public and in the private sectors, to put such systems in place?
It is my intention to have regulations in place to require all buildings commenced on or after 1 January next to have such facilities.
That work is continuing is a recognition that this is a difficult problem which needs to be kept constantly under review. It is amazing how many houses in housing estates, with which we will all become familiar in the next few weeks, have windows which do not allow people to get through and which, because they are double glazed, would be difficult to break. Is that something the Minister is taking note of in terms of future housing? Can he offer assistance towards replacing such windows, some of which, ironically, are quite new and have replaced safer windows? It is difficult to get out through double glazed windows even when they are broken.
Does the Minister have a breakdown of fire deaths as between local authority and private housing? While I am not suggesting windows are the only reason for such deaths, under Department by-laws the windows in local authority housing are small and barrack like. I agree with Deputy Sargent that while double glazed windows are flashy and may be designed to stop people breaking into houses, they are not helpful when people want to get out in an emergency.
The consolidated building regulations have been published and the technical guidelines being finalised will require new dwellings, commenced on or after 1 January next, to install not only a mains operated smoke alarm but windows suitable as a secondary means of escape. I will put the question on specifications for local authority housing to the design unit.
The size of windows in proportion to floor area is very small.
It should be a basic requirement that people should be able to get out through windows without much difficulty. This is particularly important in dwellings that accommodate the elderly. I will speak to the people in the housing division in my Department and refer directly to the Deputy.
The Minister said the matter will be dealt with in future housing programmes. These windows are installed in current housing stock and people should be informed that they are potential death traps. The Minister may claim the house improvements grant was abused in the past, but this is not a case of cosmetics or increasing the value of houses. It is a matter of life or death and it is not satisfactory for the Minister to say it will be dealt with in future housing programmes.
I am not sure if the Deputy was in the House for my original reply. A comprehensive range of regulations covering fire safety is in place under the current building control regulations. One can never rest on one's laurels and say one has done enough in terms of fire safety. We are constantly carrying out research into fire retardant materials for household furnishings, paint, panelling and so on. That research will not stop. We must continue to be vigilant in this regard.
In the last analysis, fire safety is a matter for the individual householder. The State or the local authority cannot be totally responsible. In its extensive campaigns on fire safety, the National Safety Council must beam the message at people. People should do their own inventory of fire safety in their houses by checking fire escapes, smoke detectors and the availability of fire extinguishers.
I thank the Minister for outlining his proposals. Does he intend to apply the new regulations retrospectively, in particular to Victorian houses that are divided into apartments and bedsits?
It is always difficult to apply retrospectively what is ultimately a planning law. We can apply the regulations only from a current date and give people due notice that they will apply in future. We must alert people to their responsibilities. Individual safety is crucial for oneself and one's family. The National Safety Council is doing a good job in alerting people to the specific dangers of fire.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
