I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 433 together.
The 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 such as improvements to the network of fire stations and fire service training centres and the procurement of essential frontline fire appliances, ancillary vehicles and equipment.
Under the 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 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.
Waterford City and County Council has indicated that Kilmacthomas remains their top priority project, and a new fire station at Kilmacthomas is provided for in the Fire services Capital Programme 2021 - 2025. I understand the council have sought Part 8 planning approval for the project and will seek to move quickly through the necessary phases to progress the construction of a new station for Kilmacthomas. My Department will continue to work with Waterford City and County Council to progress the new Kilmacthomas fire station project.
Detailed below is the annual spend, 2019 through to date in 2024, on fire service infrastructural projects from the fire services capital programme.
Local Authority
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
Total
|
|
€M
|
€M
|
€M
|
€M
|
€M
|
€M
|
€M
|
Carlow County Council
|
-
|
0.096
|
-
|
-
|
0.232
|
-
|
0.328
|
Cavan County Council
|
1.448
|
0.623
|
-
|
1.412
|
-
|
-
|
3.483
|
Clare County Council
|
0.503
|
0.255
|
1.060
|
0.023
|
0.100
|
-
|
1.941
|
Cork City Council
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Cork County Council
|
0.242
|
0.549
|
1.037
|
2.004
|
0.235
|
-
|
4.066
|
Dublin City Council
|
-
|
-
|
0.000
|
-
|
0.147
|
-
|
0.147
|
Donegal County Council
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Galway County Council
|
-
|
0.054
|
-
|
-
|
0.409
|
0.839
|
1.301
|
Kerry County Council
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Kildare County Council
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.283
|
0.283
|
Kilkenny County Council
|
-
|
0.126
|
-
|
0.492
|
1.384
|
-
|
2.002
|
Laois County Council
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.190
|
-
|
-
|
0.190
|
Leitrim County Council
|
-
|
0.604
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.604
|
Longford County Council
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.463
|
-
|
-
|
0.463
|
Louth County Council
|
0.326
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.326
|
Mayo County Council
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.089
|
1.105
|
-
|
2.194
|
Meath County Council
|
-
|
0.151
|
-
|
1.016
|
-
|
-
|
1.167
|
Monaghan County Council
|
0.278
|
1.034
|
-
|
0.053
|
0.530
|
-
|
1.895
|
Offaly County Council
|
-
|
0.124
|
-
|
0.102
|
0.053
|
-
|
0.279
|
Roscommon County Council
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.196
|
0.217
|
-
|
0.413
|
Sligo County Council
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.036
|
-
|
-
|
0.036
|
Tipperary County Council
|
0.278
|
1.629
|
0.097
|
-
|
2.833
|
-
|
4.837
|
Waterford City & County Council
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Westmeath County Council
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Wexford County Council
|
0.148
|
-
|
0.375
|
1.280
|
-
|
-
|
1.803
|
Wicklow County Council
|
0.206
|
-
|
-
|
0.207
|
-
|
-
|
0.412
|
Annual Totals
|
3.429
|
5.245
|
2.568
|
8.563
|
7.245
|
1.121
|
28.172
|