Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
357. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the Fire, Emergency, Management and Public Safety Bill; when this Bill will move to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29146/23]
View answerA General Scheme of a Bill to update the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003 is being prepared within my Department. This has been informed by consultation with the relevant sectors likely to be impacted by its provisions. The shape of the Bill has been considered on a number of occasions by the Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM). The Board comprises Chief Executive Officers from local authorities, the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) as well as other Government Departments and supports the general approach being taken in the Bill. However, there is still a need for further consultation with stakeholders and our other Government partners to ensure the Bill brought forward is both comprehensive and robust.
The intention of the Bill is to support and strengthen the role of local authorities. The 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 each individual fire authority. The work of local authority fire services has, to a large degree, been underpinned by the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003 for over 40 years. While this legislation has served the country well, and key indicators such as fatalities from fire per million of population have been reduced consistently to the point where they are at their lowest for forty years, it is appropriate now to ensure that the underpinning legislation fully reflects the changes is society and the expanded and more dynamic roles that our local authority fire services have taken on in recent years. For that reason, the opinions of the local government sector have been sought as to the shape this legislation should take and preliminary opinion has also been received from the Local Government Management Agency.
Like all legislation, this is a complex piece of work, which necessitates consideration of multifaceted issues that impact on a number of sectors. The current Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 have stood the test of time for 40 years. I want to ensure that its replacement also stands the test of time and when my Department is satisfied that the legislation being brought forward is appropriate, balanced, complete and robust, a Memorandum will be brought to Government on the issue in due course, followed by publication of the Bill.
