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Fire Service Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Questions (650, 667, 668)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

650. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a national plan for fire services, with national standards of call out time to arrival at fires laid down in it; the place where these standards may be accessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1110/13]

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Regina Doherty

Question:

667. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the current minimum manning levels for County Meath will be maintained under the proposed Department of the Environment National Directorate and Fire Emergency Management Body Keeping Communities Safe document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1373/13]

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Regina Doherty

Question:

668. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will give an assurance that fire officers decisions to commit resources to incidents in County Meath will not be curtailed, due to the Incident Command Systems and Standard Operational Guidelines in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1374/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 650, 667 and 668 together.

The provision of fire services in a local authority area is a statutory function of individual fire authorities. Under Section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981, a fire authority is required to make provision for the delivery of fire services in its functional area, including the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each county and city manager is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. In addition, it is a reserved function of fire authorities to adopt fire and emergency operations plans indicating the provision made in respect of organisation, appliances, equipment, fire stations, training and operational procedures for the provision of a comprehensive fire service to the community. My Department supports fire authorities through setting of general policy, training support and issue of guidance on operational and other related matters, and the provision of capital funding.

My Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management has developed a policy document, Keeping Communities Safe (KCS) , which is intended to set the future direction of fire services in Ireland. It sets out a system of national processes and standards for fire service delivery in Ireland based on a risk management approach to fire safety which combines the important elements of fire prevention, protection and response. The national standards that are proposed in KCS are in keeping with international good practice and are crucial to a consistent approach across fire services in Ireland. It is intended that the national norms and standards established by KCS will be integrated into future service planning within each local authority's fire service. The draft KCS document is available on my Department's web site at www.environ.ie, and I intend to publish it as national policy in the near future.

Furthermore, a number of health and safety related initiatives have been introduced in fire authorities following the introduction of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. These include an Ancillary Safety Statement Template for Fire Services, a National Incident Command System and Standard Operating Guidelines covering all aspects of fire service operations. These measures assist the officer-in-charge in the assessment and decision-making relating to any emergency while ensuring a safe working environment for fire-fighters.

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