Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2019
184. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when Sligo Fire Service will receive two new fire units for its Sligo and Tubbercurry fire units; if this allocation will be made in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21268/19]
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 and fire appliances is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through the setting of overarching policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority projects.
Management of the number, type and age of fire appliances is a matter for each of the local authorities who have responsibility for the assessment of their individual fire cover needs, including the provision and management of a fleet adequate to their requirements.
My Department funds new fire appliances under national procurement programmes, the most recent of which ran in 2015 and 2017. In June 2018, Sligo County Council requested approval for two new ‘Class B’ fire appliances, and were advised that this would be considered in future capital programmes. On 1 May 2019, the Council requested funding to purchase a pre-used ‘Class B’ fire appliance. This request is currently under consideration. All requests for funding from my Department’s Fire Services Capital Programme are considered in the context of the available resources, local authorities’ priorities, the value for money offered by proposals and the totality of requests from fire authorities.
