Dinny McGinley
Ceist:230 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the support he will give to Donegal County Council to assist the upgrading of the fire service. [3212/99]
Written Answers - Fire Services.
The provision of a fire service is the responsibility of the local fire authority, in accordance with the requirements of section 10 of the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department provides capital grants towards certain expenditures incurred by fire authorities on the provision of a fire service, including the provision of fire stations and the purchase of fire fighting appliances and emergency and rescue equipment, including communications equipment.
In July 1998 a new fire station for Donegal County Council was completed in Milford at a cost of £350,000 approximately and in October 1998 a new mobile radio system for the council's fire service was installed at a cost of over £63,000. Last December the council took delivery of a new Class B fire appliance and new road traffic accident rescue equipment costing about £145,000 and £73,000 respectively. On 15 December 1998, I conveyed approval to the council to invite tenders for a new three bay fire station in Buncrana which is expected to cost in the region of £600,000.
An application from the council seeking grant aid for the purchase of three Class B fire appliances is at present under consideration in my Department having regard to the funding available for the fire services capital programme and the competing demands on those funds.