Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 December 2016
220. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for the awarding of a contract and construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40992/16]
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 the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects. In February 2016, my Department announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on the current annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to Training Centres.
A fire station project in Virginia is included in this programme under the list of priority projects to be progressed in 2016. Original project documentation including contract documents and a cost plan were received in my Department in 2011, indicating a total project cost of €864,000. A revised cost plan was received in August 2016 totalling €971,761 and on 1 November approval was granted by my Department to Cavan County Council to begin seeking tenders for the construction of the proposed fire station at Virginia.
The projects in the capital programme will be reassessed on an annual basis and priority may be adjusted to bring forward projects offering best value-for-money and to take account of the state of readiness of the projects.
