Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2024
197. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of fire incidents across the State, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26216/24]
View answer198. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of fire incidents in buildings 11 metres or higher across the State, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26217/24]
View answer208. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of deaths attributed to fire across the State, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26227/24]
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 Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy and national standards, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding support for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
There has been a welcome downward trend in the incidence of fire, with the fire fatality rate per million of population, using a three year average, currently at 3.9 deaths per million of population. While each death is one too many, this figure is a third of what it was twenty years ago when it stood at 12.9 deaths per million of population. That level of fire fatalities positions Ireland among countries with very low fire fatality rates.
The number of fire fatalities recorded in Ireland in 2023 was 17 and the number recorded so far this year is 10.
While data in respect of buildings over 11 metres is not available in my Department, a significant range of fire safety statistics collected by my Department are available at the following link, where 2023 statistics will be made available shortly:
gov - Fire Statistics (www.gov.ie)
