Vol. 351 No. 8
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline in detail the types of fire fighting equipment available in each city and town throughout the country; the capacity of this equipment; the number of full-time fire staff in each case; if he is satisfied that sufficient equipment and personnel are available to provide basic fire fighting services efficiently and quickly in the interest of the protection of people and property; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10.
asked the Minister for the Environment the small towns that have no fire fighting equipment; their location and that of the nearest fire brigade; if, in view of the serious hazards that fires present, he will introduce legislation to ensure that all these small towns have basic fire fighting equipment by providing a grant from his Department for its purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
It is the responsibility of the 35 fire authorities which were established under the Fire Services Act, 1981, to ensure that sufficient personnel and equipment are available to provide a satisfactory fire service for their areas. In addition to the formulation and implementation of national policy and legislation in respect of the fire service, my role includes guiding, advising and assisting fire authorities in the discharge of their functions and the provision of finance to assist in the development and improvement of the fire services. At the request of my Department fire authorities have been carrying out appraisals of their existing fire services with the object of identifying deficiencies and formulating programmes for improvements.
Fire cover is provided mainly by full-time personnel in the larger centres of pupulation and by part-time staff in other areas. As at 31 December 1983, a total of 1,120 full-time and 1971 part-time staff were employed. Many senior fire service personnel have functions in relation to a number of different towns. Accordingly, it would not be possible to provide a breakdown of the full-time staff in relation to individual towns as requested. Details of the location and capacity of the items of equipment used by local fire brigades at individual local stations throughout the country are not available in my Department.
A capital sum of £7.5 million has been provided in 1984 to assist fire authorities in the improvement and development of the fire service, including the construction and improvement of fire stations and the purchase of fire-fighting equipment. This is 25 per cent more than in 1983 and compares with the amount of £2.143 million made available in 1980. In addition, a 50 per cent subsidy is paid on loan charges of fire authorities in respect of borrowings for fire services purposes and £1.46 million is provided for this purpose in 1984.
