Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 1

Written Answers. - Fire Services.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

188 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the amount of money allocated to County Donegal in each of the years from 1996 to date for the fire services; the projects involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6027/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The provision of a fire service is a matter for the local fire authorities to deal with in accordance with section 10 of the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department does, however, assist fire authorities by providing capital grants towards certain expenditure already incurred in respect of approved projects. The fire services capital grants paid by my Department to Donegal County Council in each of the years from 1996 are as follows:

Year	Total
	€
1996	97,791
1997	473,104
1998	303,129
1999	142,846
2000	742,360
2001	1,033,283

This expenditure was in respect of fire stations, appliances and equipment and the computer aided mobilisation project and involved new fire stations at Milford, completed 1998, Buncrana, completed 2000, Letterkenny headquarters, commenced 2001, Falcarragh, commenced 2001, and planning for new fire stations at Carndonagh and Donegal town; the purchase of five new fire appliances, three of which have been delivered and the replacement of the mobile radio and alerting system as part of the computer aided mobilisation project.