Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022
209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if investment will be made into a fire service (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15722/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In December 2020, I announced a new Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
- area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
- established Health and Safety needs;
- state of development of the project (is site acquired?, etc.); and
- value for money offered by the proposal.
This new Programme will see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further 12 new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of 35 new fire engines. In order to maximise the available Capital Programme funding, my Department re-assesses the status of projects in the Programme on an annual basis, and some flexibility is normally available to advance projects that are ready and that offer best value-for-money taking account of the state of readiness of projects more generally.
Kerry County Council has indicated that the upgrade of Killarney fire station is one of their fire station priority projects, and funding for this is provided for in this Capital Programme, with an estimated cost of €366,000 excluding VAT.
Under the Annual Fire Services Capital Programmes, Departmental grant-aid of just over €398,000 from 2016 – 2021 has contributed to the provision of a new “Class B” appliance (engine), two vans, a 4WD pick-up truck and Community Smoke Alarms for Kerry Fire Service. The Service has also been allocated a new “Class B” appliance under the 2021 -2023 Appliance Procurement Programme at an estimated cost of c. €480,000. Approval has also been given for two 4WD vehicles and an incident command unit.
