Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
571. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budget allocation for the fire services capital programme in 2021, 2022 and 2023; and the percentage of that funding that was actually spent in the years of 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [35799/23]
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 the Fire Service Acts, 1981 and 2003.
My Department supports fire authorities by establishing policy, setting national standards for fire safety and fire service provision, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects and the procurement of essential frontline fire appliances, ancillary vehicles and equipment.
Under Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003, 31 local authorities provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Local authority fire services are delivered by approximately 3,300 local authority staff engaged at 217 fire stations nationwide, with 16 of these stations staffed by full-time firefighters, a further 4 are mixed full-time and retained, and 197 are staffed by retained firefighters.
In 2021, my Department allocated a capital budget of €14.416 million for Fire and Emergency services. The capital expenditure in 2021, €7.75 million, equated to 54% of the budget allocation. The budget allocation underspend in 2021 was directly attributable to the ongoing consequences of the Covid-19 public health emergency. As with other sectors, Fire station construction projects were adversely affected by delays and Covid-19 restrictions in 2020/21. Expected expenditure on specialist fire appliances was also impacted; supply chain issues as a consequence of the public health emergency, saw lead in times for equipment and appliances severely affected.
In 2022, my Department allocated a capital budget of €18 million for Fire and Emergency services. The capital expenditure in 2022, €22.636 million, was ultimately 26% above the estimate provision due mainly to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions and the knock on effect which saw the recommencement of several fire service infrastructure construction projects (Station builds/ refurbishments). In some instances, supply chain issues that had affected the purchase of essential specialist fire appliances and equipment during the period of the public health emergency eased more quickly than anticipated and additional opportunities for the purchase of specialist equipment and vehicles became apparent to local authorities. Additional funds were made available from within the Department's budget to meets those costs. As with other sectors of the economy, an increase in costs associated with construction projects and the purchase of appliances and equipment, in line with the CPI, has been noticeable.
C.4 - Fire and Emergency Services
|
Year |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
Budget Allocation |
14.416 |
18 |
22.4 |
|
Actual Spend |
7.75 |
22.636 |
|
|
Percentage Spend |
54% |
126% |
|
