Alan Kelly
Question:235. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the fire services capital plan. [25686/17]
View answerTuesday, 30 May 2017
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Written answers
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 and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service 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.
New fire station projects specified in the Capital Programme have been approved to tender stage by my Department in line with anticipated timeframes. These include Templemore, Graiguenamanagh, Ferbane, Tuam and Virginia. New fire stations are also proposed over the lifetime of the Programme for Macroom, Cashel, Loughrea, Clonakilty, New Ross, Ballyjamesduff, Manorhamilton, Kilmacthomas, Castleblayney, Urlingford, Nobber, Crossmolina and Dunleer.
Approval to proceed to tender stage has been given for an extension to Killarney fire station. Other fire stations proposed under the Programme for remedial/upgrade works include Ballinasloe, Dunshaughlin, Muine Bheag, Mountmellick, Mountrath, Ballinamore, Drumshanbo, Oldcastle and Kilkee.
The fire appliance joint procurement programme, which will see the delivery of 20 new appliances to local authorities around the country, is progressing according to schedule. The time-frame for construction of these vehicles is approximately 18 months, and a number of these appliances are already in service, with the remainder expected to be delivered by end Q4 2017/Q1 2018.
My Department is working closely with individual local authorities to progress the Capital Programme projects as a matter of priority. The projects are 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.