Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
1599. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the outcome of the review for fire safety in the multi-storey social housing sector which was requested from local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16295/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1600. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress being made by the fire safety task force established after the Grenfell fire disaster; if the task force has completed its review of buildings over 18 m in height; if it has it published its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16296/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1599 and 1600 together.
On 27 June 2017, in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy and in recognition of fears expressed for fire safety, I tasked my Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management with coordinating a high-level Task Force to lead a reappraisal of fire safety in Ireland. The Task Force was requested to oversee and report on a number of initial steps, and to urgently consider any potential life safety issues and appropriate responses.
In addition to establishing the Task Force, I requested that a number of immediate initial actions be taken. Local authorities were directed to undertake a review of fire safety in multi-storey social housing buildings and to also review fire safety in medium to high rise buildings in their functional areas. The Task Force was mandated to oversee and report on these initial actions as well as reviewing existing arrangements and systems for fire safety and related issues which impact on fire safety in Ireland.
This initial work in relation to both multi-storey social housing buildings and medium to high rise buildings has been carried out and all local authorities have reported back to my Department as requested. The Fire Safety Task Force established two sub-groups to review the returns received from local authorities. The returns indicate that multi-storey social housing buildings in Ireland are generally designed, built and equipped appropriately for domestic fire risk, although a number of fire safety issues were identified and followed up.
With regard to the review of medium to high rise buildings (greater than 6 stories or 18m high), more than 800 buildings were identified through the national survey undertaken. A number of these were identified as having external cladding which gave rise to concerns and in these cases building owners have been required by local authorities, using their powers under the Fire Services Acts, to undertake fire safety assessments. National guidance on further actions in light of the results of these fire safety assessments, taking account of emerging information on the cladding issue from international sources, was prepared by the Task Force sub-group and a guidance note – "Fire safety Guidance Note 01 of 2017 Assessing Existing Cladding Systems in Buildings of More than Six Storeys, or More than 18m in Height" – was published by my Department in December 2017. The guidance note was circulated to fire authorities and placed on my Department’s website as a support for those undertaking assessments of cladding in medium to high rise buildings. The assessment process in individual buildings, and remediation work where deemed necessary in a small number of buildings, is on-going and in some cases is expected to take a number of months to complete.
As it carries out its work, the Task Force is considering information and developments arising from inquiries and reviews in the UK in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire. However, the initial indications are that the specific conditions which appear to have existed in Grenfell Tower do not exist in buildings in this country.
The work of the Task Force is advanced significantly and I expect to be provided with its report by the end of April 2018. I will consider its conclusions and recommendations without delay.
