Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
150. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Defence the amount spent on purchasing new fire appliances for the Defence Forces fire services in 2019 and to date in 2020; and the frequency with which fire appliances are replaced. [22886/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.
The acquisition of new equipment and the upgrading of equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me. Future equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and equipment priorities planning process. The principal aim over the period of the White Paper will be to replace and upgrade, as required, existing capabilities in order to retain a flexible response for a wide range of operational requirements both at home and overseas. Equipment priorities for acquisition will now also align with the Equipment Development Plan for the Defence Forces published in June of this year. This plan builds on the intentions set out in the White Paper on Defence in relation to equipment acquisition, modernisation and upgrade and has been developed and considered through joint civil-military co-operation, ensuring that the Defence Forces will have the best equipment for the job, based on a determination of priorities from a whole of defence standpoint.
The Defence Forces operate a fire station at the Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC), Curragh Camp, a Crash Rescue Service based in Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel, and has a fire crew deployed overseas in Lebanon.
The Defence Forces fire station at the Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC), Curragh Camp operates with one fire crew on duty at all times. The main purpose of the fire station is to provide a rapid response in the event of a fire at the Ammunition Depot, and also to respond to fire alarms and fire emergencies within the DFTC.
Certain purchasing is carried out by the Defence Forces directly under delegation of financial responsibility which permits the Defence Forces to procure a wide range of goods and services directly, this includes the purchasing of fire appliances. I am advised by the military authorities that the DFTC fire station is adequately equipped with a Class B Fire Appliance which was delivered in 2018 following an open tender competition, as well as a reserve Fire Tender which was registered in 1999. There is currently no requirement for the acquisition of additional fire appliances for the DFTC.
The other military installation with a requirement for a fire service on island is Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel, where a fire and crash rescue service is required for airfield operations. This service has two Airport Firefighting Tenders which have been in service since 2007 and 2009 respectively. Planning is underway for the replacement of these two appliances in the next 18 months. In addition there is one small 4x4 Fire Tender, the registration year on this vehicle is 2001.
A contract was placed in 2019 with High Precision Motor Products (HPMP) Ltd. Under an Office of Government Procurement (OGP) Framework Agreement for the supply of a Rapid Intervention Fire Tender (RIFT) at €424,810.20 (incl. VAT). In 2019 €332,100 (incl. VAT) was paid for the Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) and gantry ladders associated with the fire tender. The remaining sum of €92,710.20 (incl. VAT) will be paid on delivery of the RIFT in Oct 2020. The delivery into service of the RIFT vehicle will augment the existing capability of the Air Corps Fire and Rescue Service at Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel.
A further contract was placed with HPMP in 2019, again under an OGP Framework Agreement, for the supply of a Class B Fire Tender at a cost of €424,729 (incl. VAT) to replace the Fire Tender that is in service in UNIFIL with the Irish contingent in UNP 2-45 which has been in service since 2001. In 2019 €149,998.50 (incl. VAT) was paid for the Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS), gantry ladders and winch system associated with the fire tender. The remaining sum of €274,730.50 (incl. VAT) will be paid on delivery of the Fire Tender at the end of September 2020.
The expected service life of these types of appliances is 15-20 years. I am satisfied that, with these new acquisitions and the planning for future procurements, the Defence Forces continue to have the necessary modern and effective range of equipment available to them in order to fulfil all roles assigned to them by Government.
