The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and guidance, and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to the approved purchase of fire appliances and specialist emergency and communications equipment as well as construction and upgrading of fire stations.
Under the 2008 fire service capital programme, a proposal by Kilkenny County Council to build a new two bay fire station in Grauigenamanagh was approved in principle. The Council was subsequently approved to prepare detailed design and tender documents in relation to the project. These have been received in my Department for consideration. In keeping with other reductions, it has been necessary to reduce the fire service capital allocation. Given the ongoing constraints on public finances, funding is not available from the programme at present for the building of a new fire station in Graiguenamanagh. Priority has been given to supporting the national fire appliance fleet and, in this regard, Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service has received an allocation for a new appliance which is currently under construction.
