The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003. Dublin City Council provides the fire service for the four Dublin local authorities – Dublin City Council itself, Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin County Councils.
My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and guidance and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to approved construction projects and the purchase of fire appliances and equipment. The current national priority for capital funding is supporting the fire appliance fleet. Dublin Fire Brigade has been approved for 2 new appliances, which are at the tender stage of the procurement process.
A proposal to extend Tallaght fire station was approved in principle under the 2006 Fire Services Capital Programme. However, given the current constraints on public finances it has been necessary, in keeping with other reductions, to reduce the fire service capital allocations in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Accordingly, my Department is not in a position at present to fund the significant investment (circa €3 million) required to progress the extension of Tallaght Fire Station.
As an alternative, in light of the business case made by Dublin City Council in August 2011, my Department approved grant-aid of €300,000 to supplement funding committed by the Council in respect of necessary and urgent works at the fire station. These necessary upgrading works were completed during 2012 and grant-aid of €300,000 was paid by my Department in respect of this.
