Vol. 496 No. 1
175 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of firefighting appliances in service which are less than five years old, between five and ten years old and more than ten years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22272/98]
183 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if over 60 per cent of the fire appliance and emergency ambulance fleets in the country are over eight years old, with each vehicle having completed in excess of 220,000 miles on average; the plans, if any, he has to provide for the introduction of minimum standards in respect of the life-span of these fleets, task-specific standards in respect of their road worthiness, standards in respect of their construction and design and the application of his Department's MOT testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22150/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 183 together.
I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 26 of 5 March 1998 regarding the age of fire appliances. Information regarding the average mileage of such appliances is not available in my Department.
The provision, including the determination of specifications, and management of fire appliance fleets is a matter for the individual fire authorities having regard to their local circumstances and needs etc. which can vary significantly. It would not be appropriate for me therefore to set specific limits in respect of the life span of fire appliances. Fire appliances are generally constructed on commercial vehicle chassis and generally comply with the Joint Committee for Design and Development — JCDD 1 — U.K. standards. Fire appliances are subject to the requirements of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1998 and the Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1996. While fire appliances are not currently required to be tested under the compulsory vehicle testing scheme, it is the intention to include them in the scheme at an early date. All fire appliances are assessed for road worthiness during regular maintenance. The position in relation to the emergency ambulance service is a matter for the Minister for Health and Children and I have no function in this regard.
