Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
449. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the provision for a new Fire Station in Rathdowney, County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55273/23]
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 Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. 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 equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In December 2020, I announced the Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received.
Any proposal received by my Department requesting further support from the Fire services capital programme is considered with regard to national priorities and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide.
Project consideration stages in my Department include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of a site; application for approval in principle; appointment of design consultants; submission of a preliminary design; planning application; submission of a preliminary cost plan, detailed design and cost plans; and tender process and construction stages - each step subject to approval from my Department.
At that time Laois County Council had indicated that a new fire station at Stradbally to be their number one priority. Approval in principle for a new fire station at Stradbally was conveyed to the Council in November 2022 and subsequently the Council were approved to tender for design consultants for the project in March 2023.
I understand that there was an historic project application in relation to the fire station in Rathdowney that did not eventually progress as proposed and that, in 2017, Laois County Council put in place an extension on to Rathdowney Fire Station, consisting of separate male and female toilets, a shower cubicle and a new muster bay.
Laois County Council have previously indicated that the replacement of Rathdowney Fire Station to be their second priority going forward. While this project is not currently included in my Department's Fire Services Capital programme, all projects in the capital programme may be reassessed on an annual basis to maximise available capital programme funding and priority may be adjusted to bring forward projects offering best value-for-money and to take account the state of readiness of the projects, based on ongoing engagement with local authorities in respect of prioritisation.
