Vol. 511 No. 3
259 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the finances, if any, made available to the National Safety Council for the promotion of fire safety; and the response of the local authorities to the request to consider the provision of smoke alarms in all their rented dwellings. [24445/99]
An annual grant of £877,000 was paid by my Department to the National Safety Council in 1999 as a contribution towards the administration of the council and the provision of services in relation to fire, road and water safety. The allocation of funds to the promotion of fire safety is a matter for the council.
From 1 June 1992 up to 1 July 1998, all new dwellings, including new local authority dwellings, were required to be fitted with battery operated smoke alarms. This was superseded on 1 July 1998 by a requirement that all new dwellings be fitted with mains operated smoke alarms. My Department has also suggested to local authorities that they should consider providing smoke alarms and taking the necessary steps through guidance etc. to ensure that these alarms are properly installed and maintained in the dwellings of their tenants generally. This is a matter primarily for each local authority as part of the management of its rented housing stock and it is not intended that my Department should exercise detailed supervision of this process.
