Trevor Sargent
Question:337 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans he has to ensure that all local authorities comply with fire safety laws. [19985/01]
Written Answers. - Fire Safety Regulations.
Fire authorities are responsible under section 10(2) of the 1981 Fire Services Act for the provision and delivery of fire services in their functional areas. In addition, under section 25 of the Act, fire authorities may carry out or assist in emergency operations, including non-fire emergencies. In this context, all borough corporations and county councils, including the Dublin authorities, have prepared major emergency plans which are tested and updated, as appropriate. The current Dublin plan is effective from 15 November 1999. These plans set out the arrangements for mobilising and co-ordinating the emergency response to any event which causes or threatens death or injury, serious disruption of essential services or damage to property on a scale beyond the normal capabilities of the Garda, local authorities and health services.
Trevor Sargent
Question:338 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans he has to bring Ireland into line regarding fire safety with the rest of Europe where the building of a premises cannot start unless an advance fire certificate is issued. [19986/01]
Part III of the Building Control Regulations, 1997, provides for the issue of a fire safety certificate (FSC) by a building control authority. The FSC certifies that the works or building, if constructed in accordance with the plans, documents and information submitted, would comply with the requirements of Part B (Fire Safety) of the regulations. A fire safety certificate is required for building work in categories specified in Article II(I) of the regulations, including the construction or material alteration of commercial premises, places of work and assembly, institutional buildings and the common areas of apartment blocks.
Article 12(2) of the regulations requires that where a fire safety certificate is required in respect of works or a building, a person shall not carry out such works in the absence of such a certificate.
Responsibility for compliance with the building regulations is a matter for the designer, builder, and owner of a building. Enforcement of the regulations is the responsibility of the local building control authorities.
Trevor Sargent
Question:339 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he plans to act on recommendations made following the Stardust disaster for a properly resourced fire service; and when the establishment of a fire service inspectorate and direct Ministerial responsibility for the state of the fire brigade will take place. [19987/01]
The 1982 Report of the Stardust Tribunal made a wide range of recommendations in relation to the fire service and other related matters. All of these recommendations have received full and careful consideration and have either been implemented or taken into account in the ongoing formulation of policy on fire safety and the development of the local authority fire services in the intervening per iod. Improvements have been carried out on a comprehensive basis, covering such areas as the financing and equipping of the local fire service, its organisation and staffing, training, the legislative framework, and emergency planning.
I am satisfied that these improvements have significantly strengthened the capacity of the service to respond to fires and other emergencies, and in fire prevention activities.
Notwithstanding these very positive developments in the fire service over the past 20 years, I have recently appointed Farrell Grant Sparks Consulting Limited to undertake a wide ranging strategic review of the service. The objective of the review will be to examine and report on the arrangements to ensure that people, property and the environment are protected from fire and other emergencies by the provision of quality fire safety and emergency services. I expect the review to be finalised in the autumn and to provide a report into the future direction of this important service.
Question No. 340 answered with Question No. 89.