Vol. 407 No. 2
8 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Finance whether the Dublin chief fire officer has advised the Chairman of the Commissioners of Public Works on the question of providing access for a turntable ladder to the courtyard of Government Buildings, Merrion Street, Dublin 2 to ensure efficiency of fire fighting operations; the action he intends to take to meet the fire officer's requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
30 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance whether he has had any discussions in relation to the mounting evidence of unsatisfactory fire access at the new offices of the Department of the Taoiseach; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 30 together.
There has been correspondence between the Commissioners of Public Works and the Dublin assistant chief fire officer. I would stress to Deputies, as I did on the Adjournment debate on 12 February and 14 March 1991, that Government Buildings meets the standards of fire safety as set by the 1983 draft building regulations including those governing access for fire tenders. Fire safety and security procedures are kept under constant review.
Will the Minister accept that the fire officer stated, quite clearly, he considers it desirable that the entrance to the courtyard at Government Buildings should be capable of admitting a turntable ladder? That is on the record of the city council of which the Minister is a member. Is the city fire officer acting without just cause? Is he expressing concern without just cause? Is the Minister questioning the judgment of the chief fire officer? Does the Minister know more about fire safety than the fire chief in Dublin city? Is this not a case of low standards in high places? Will the Minister answer the specific question which the city fire officer——
I would be grateful if the questions were specific and brief.
This was all discussed in the House and, indeed, on radio on previous occasions. A letter was received from the assistant chief fire officer of Dublin Corporation, on 7 February last advising the chairman that a particular type of turntable ladder could not gain access to the courtyard. Notwithstanding this, the building meets all the fire regulations, both mandatory and discretionary. The draft building regulations have no statutory authority but are followed very stringently by the Office of Public Works. There is 100 per cent access to the external perimeter of the building and dry rises, which are an alternative to turntable ladders from a fire fighting point of view, are fitted at each floor level.
Is the Minister not prepared to accept the advice of the fire officer of Dublin city? Surely people should expect the highest possible standards from Government as, after all, they set the standards in many of these instances? Why is the Minister so reluctant to meet this reasonable request? Is it simply a refusal or a reluctance to having to admit to being wrong? Why can the Minister not act on the advice of the chief fire officer?
The Deputy has repeatedly put the question and that should be adequate.
It is a very important issue.
The Deputy has adequately made his point.
He did not get an answer.
Fire safety in Dublin is a major issue and there have been many tragic events in this city.
Deputy Gregory has received quite some latitude from the Chair. He should appreciate that and come to finality in respect of this question.
Will the Minister answer the specific question I put to him? Why is he so reluctant to meet the reasonable request of the city fire officer?
The Deputy asked that question on a number of occasions.
I assure Deputy Gregory that there is no reluctance on the part of the Office of Public Works to meet any reasonable request provided it is absolutely necessary and does not in any way infringe on security. As the Deputy know, there are different types of turntable ladders and only the very largest one cannot gain access to the courtyard although it can gain access to the perimeter of the buildings. There are other, slightly smaller, turntable ladders which can and do gain access to the courtyard. Nevertheless, if security arrangements permit, I have already asked Office of Public Works officials to examine the possibility of looking at this whole area again. If security permits, they will come back to me with a report with some alternatives as to how we can accommodate both points of view.
What cost would be involved and what extent of work would be involved to meet the fire officer's requirements, in view of the scandalous squandering of Government money on Government Buildings despite the dreadful living conditions that many of our people——
The Deputy is bringing in quite a lot of extraneous matter.
That is totally irrelevant and is the normal course followed by Deputy Gregory particularly coming up to a local election.
The cost of the work is irrelevant?
