Vol. 396 No. 4
3 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Chief Fire Officers' Association and the firefighters' union SIPTU have stated that another Stardust type disaster is a real possibility because many of the recommendations of the Stardust Tribunal have not been implemented; when it is intended to implement those recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
52 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the call made by the recently retired Chief Fire Officer of Dublin (details supplied) for his Department to issue a clear set of guidelines for fire safety standards in new buildings; to the fears expressed by the Chairman of the Fire Officers' Association (details supplied) that another Stardust fire could occur in this country; if he will outline the recommendations made by the Stardust Tribunal which have not yet been implemented; if it is intended to implement these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 52 together. I have seen press reports to the effect indicated in both questions.
With regard to the references to certain of the recommendations of the report of the Stardust Tribunal, I would refer the Deputies to my reply to Question No. 24 of 25 November, 1987, and the reply to Question No. 8 of 25 June, 1985. Apart from the few specific recommendations referred to in the latter reply which it was decided not to implement, the tribunal's recommendations have either been implemented or are being taken into account in the continuing development of Government policy in relation to fire safety and the improvement of the fire service.
I am glad to say that very worthwhile progress has been, and continues to be, made in the improvement of fire safety generally with the objective of reducing and, if possible, eliminating deaths, injuries and losses caused by fire.
Action taken since 1981 has included allocating some £55 million, including the 1990 allocation, from State funds to finance work on 68 new or reconstructed fire stations, the purchase of 200 new fire appliances and major improvements in telecommunications, emergency equipment, etc. Fire service staffing at senior levels has been increased from 30 to 133 posts, of which 69 are for fire prevention work. The Fire Services Act, 1981, strengthened the powers of fire authorities to enforce fire safety. The Fire Safety in Places of Assembly (Ease of Escape) Regulations, 1985, made the locking of exists and blocking of escape routes from places of assembly such as discos, cinemas, etc. an offence. Codes of Practice and other advice have recently been issued giving advice on fire safety in places of assembly, hotels and guest houses and community-based residences for mentally-handicapped or mentally-ill people. Further fire safety advice will be produced as soon as possible. The Fire Services Council have run 90 training courses for fire service personnel since they were established in 1983 and they have a full training programme in hands for this year which is, of course, additional to the training being provided at local level. The National Safety Council are fostering fire safety through publicity campaigns while local authorities now have well-developed plans for dealing with major emergencies.
With regard to the question of fire safety standards in new buildings, the proposed building regulations which relate to new buildings have been revised to take account of the tribunal's technical recommendations. Pending enactment of the Building Control Bill, my Department have asked local authorities and all others concerned to regard the proposed regulations as if they had statutory backing and to apply the standards set out in the draft regulations when designing and constructing buildings.
The Building Control Bill was passed by Dáil Éireann in December 1989 and is currently before Seanad Eireann.
Is the Minister aware that not only SIPTU but also the Chief Fire Officers' Association have said progress in implementing the Stardust Tribunal recommendations is too slow? Will he accept that the training and equipment are currently inadequate and that in the area of equipment the inadequacies relate particularly to breathing apparatus and protective clothing? What assurances can the Minister give to the House that these matters will be addressed swiftly?
We would all be concerned to have as prudent and efficient a fire service as possible. The very distinguished former Chief Fire Officer of Dublin, now retired, acknowledged publicly the worthwhile progress that had been made on these matters in recent years. I can quite understand that we would seek to apply as much resource as possible to improving the service, but very considerable worthwhile developments have taken place as I indicated in the answer. I think Deputy Shatter recognised that on a previous occasion. My intention is to improve on the situation in every way.
Will the Minister agree that the fire service is too fragmented with 32 different fire authorities? Has he considered a regionalisation of these authorities and the application of uniform standards and guidelines to all of them? Will he agree there is a need for an inspectorate of fire services such as exists in other EC countries to ensure uniformity is being applied and that the recommendations of the report published today by the Fire Service Council with regard to training apply uniformly throughout the country to those recruited to the fire service?
We are having an expansion of the subject matter.
It is important to have as good training as is possible. The question about the establishment of an inspectorate of fire services has not been agreed. That is the recommendation that was not agreed to. The situation was referred to by a predecessor of mine by way of public announcement in June 1985. Deputy Kavanagh was Minister for the Environment at that time and he outlined the reasons it was not being proceeded with. There has been nothing to alter the position since.
I do not necessarily agree with Deputy Kavanagh's approach and I ask the Minister to have another look at the need for a fire inspectorate. In the context of Dublin, the position in the central control building in Tara Street has reportedly been described as chaotic, and it has been stated that none or few of the problems that arose in the Stardust Tribunal regarding the central control building have yet been resolved. Can the Minister make a statement on this aspect of the matter and give the House an assurance that in the event of a similar disaster in Dublin the fire services will be able to cope promptly and efficiently with any such outbreak?
It is important that the principle be continually established in that the question of the relationship between central Government and the local authorities is fundamental. I think local authorities are best able to control their own fire service. It would diminish the effectiveness if it were all transferred centrally. That was the basic thinking behind——
There is a problem in Tara Street which cannot be ignored.
There is going to be an improvement in the situation of that location. The Deputy is quite right. There is a major project for a new control room.
Nothing at present has changed.
The project has been planned by the corporation. I expect the new control room to go to tender later this year. I think the cost is about £3 million.
I suggest the Minister press the corporation to deal with this matter a great deal more quickly than they appear to be dealing with it some years after the tribunal reported and that his Department provide the necessary funding.
The matter has been discussed with the corporation and there is no delay on our side. We are just waiting for finalisation of the tendering.
Do they have the funding?
I am providing it.
The Minister is providing the funding?
However it is going to be provided, I am satisfied that that new control room is necessary and money will have to be found for it.
