Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 4

Written Answers. - Fire Safety.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

220 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recent comments by fire safety officers that recommendations emerging from the Stardust tragedy are still not implemented 18 years later; and if he will make an undertaking to Dáil Éireann that the necessary legislation will be put in place. [12298/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The 1982 report of the Stardust tribunal made a wide range of recommendations in relation to the fire service and other related matters. All of these recommendations have either been implemented or taken into account in the ongoing formulation of policy on fire safety and the development of the local authority fire services over the intervening period, with the support of successive Governments. Improvements have been carried out on a comprehensive basis, covering such areas as the financing and equipping of the local fire service, its organisation and staffing, the legislative framework, and emergency planning.

With respect to capital investment, since 1981 almost £100 million has been provided from State funds to finance work on over 100 new or reconstructed fire stations, the purchase of 350 fire appliances and a wide range of emergency equipment and the development of a new national Computer Aided Mobilisation Project, CAMP.

The Fire Services Act, 1981, strengthened the overall statutory regime for enforcing fire safety. Regulations under the Act make the locking of exits and blocking of escape route from places of assembly an offence. Building regulations, which came into effect in June 1992 set out the requirements, including fire safety requirements, to be met in the design and construction of new buildings and material changes in existing buildings. With some limited exceptions, a fire safety certificate is now required for new buildings, extensions, and material alterations and changes of use. In December 1997 consolidated building regulations and building control regulations were made. These regulations came into operation on 1 July 1998.

As regards staffing, there were about 30 professional posts in the local fire service prior to 1982, whereas now there are 121 such posts, with a greatly increased emphasis on fire prevention and fire safety. While the issue of staffing is generally a matter for each fire authority, my Department will consider any requests for additional staff in this area.

A series of codes of practice and guidelines have been published by my Department providing fire safety advice for furnishings and fittings in places of assembly as well as fire safety advice for various classes of premises such as places of assembly, hotels, indoor concerts, guesthouses, flats, apartments, nursing homes, hostels and pre-schools. Operational guidelines covering training needs, the use of breathing apparatus, etc. have also issued to fire authorities. Work is continuing in my Department on the preparation of further advice and guidance.

Major improvements in fire service training have also taken place. Since the Fire Services Council was established in 1983, the council has held over 190 training courses at central level for over 3,600 local fire service personnel. This training supplements the training carried out locally by fire authorities. Major training facilities for the fire service have been provided at several centres around the country including the Dublin Fire Brigade training centre at Marino.

The National Safety Council, established in 1988, promotes public awareness in relation to fire safety, as well as roads and water safety.

Local authorities have developed plans to deal with major emergencies and my Department provides extensive advice and assistance to the authorities on this matter on an ongoing basis.

Three mobilisation and communications centres to handle all fire 999-112 calls are being developed in Limerick, Dublin and Castlebar. The Munster regional control centre in Limerick, which is capable of serving the whole of Munster is already in operation. The control centre for the eastern region is in operation and caters for the overall Dublin area and Counties Laois and Meath via an interim system. It is hoped that the remainder of Leinster and Counties Cavan and Monaghan will be brought into the system on a phased basis as early as possible. The western centre, based in Castlebar, with the capacity to serve Connaught and Donegal has recently been constructed and will be in operation shortly.

I am satisfied that these improvements have significantly strengthened the capacity of the service to respond to fires and other emergencies, and in fire prevention activities.