Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 September 2018
241. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when capital funding will be provided for the upgrade of Rathdowney fire station County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39205/18]
View answerThe 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 section 10 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.
Under the 2006 Fire Service Capital Programme a proposal by Laois County Council to build a new fire station at Rathdowney was received by my Department and approval in principle was granted to proceed to the planning stages. Laois County Council submitted cost and design plans on 2 June 2009 for consideration by my Department. At that time Laois County Council were asked to review these plans with a view to finding savings as it was felt the project offered insufficient value for money.
A re-assessment of fire station projects was undertaken in 2015. This graded proposals on the basis of:
- Area Risk Categorisation of the Fire Station (population, fire risks etc.)
- Established Health and Safety Needs
- The state of development of the project (is site acquired etc.?)
- The Value for Money offered by the proposal
In February 2016, my Department announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on an 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. Under this programme, the list of priority projects to be progressed will be kept under review on an annual basis.
A fire station project for Rathdowney is not included in the current 5 year programme, but my Department will have regard to Laois County Council’s priorities and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide for funding in further considering any proposal. Refurbishments of Fire Stations in Mountmellick and Mountrath are included in the 5 year programme and my Department continues to work with Laois County Council to progress these projects.
