Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2015
642. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the proposals to provide a new fire station in Virginia in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46187/15]
View answer643. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the proposals to provide a new fire station in Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46188/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 642 and 643 together.
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 Acts 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 approved construction projects and the purchase of fire appliances and equipment.
My Department is currently preparing a fire capital programme for the coming five years and in this regard is engaging with local authorities, as appropriate, to review proposed fire station projects. Requirements for new stations, or enhanced facilities at existing stations, are being appraised with a view to developing value-for-money projects, while still meeting the necessary functional requirements of a retained fire station.
It should be noted that the provision of funding to bring agreed projects to construction stage will be considered within the constraints of existing commitments and available resources and will have regard to national priorities, the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide, the extent of previous investment in particular areas, the value for money offered by proposals and the status of existing facilities in relation to the area’s fire risk categorisation.
In relation to the Deputy’s particular queries, my Department will liaise with Cavan County Council in relation to the fire stations in question.
