Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2014
529. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the representations he made to the Department of Finance for more funding for the redevelopment and purchasing of new vehicles for the country's fire services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29505/14]
View answerThe provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. 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 emergency equipment as well as construction and upgrading of fire stations.
My Department has contributed in excess of €169 million in capital funding over the past decade towards significant improvements in fire service infrastructure, fleet and equipment. Ireland is acknowledged to have a good infrastructure of fire stations and an excellent front-line fleet of appliances, specialist vehicles and equipment. In recognition of the importance of continued investment in the fire service, the capital allocation was increased from €5 million in 2013 to €8 million this year. This was achieved notwithstanding the context of reducing capital budgets in line with Government policy on the management of the public finances.
Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as one of the key national priorities for the fire services capital programme. In that context and in order to deliver cost efficiencies, a programme involving fire authorities aggregating demand and jointly procuring 17 fire appliances is now nearing completion. Following the success of this programme, further support from my Department's fire services capital programme for a similar initiative and other equipment or fire station projects will be considered within the constraints of available resources and will have regard to local authorities' priorities, the value for money offered by proposals, the totality of requests from fire authorities and the status of existing facilities having regard to risk categorisation.
