Pauline Tully
Question:605. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details for all capital plans for the development of fire services in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [45005/24]
View answerTuesday, 5 November 2024
Questions (605)
Written answers
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 and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act 1981 & 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 priority infrastructure projects.
In December 2020, I announced the 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;
• value for money offered by the proposal; and
• the totality of requests from all authorities.
The 2021 - 2025 Programme was projected to 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 appliances. Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as a key national priority; that is why, in October 2023, I announced the allocation of an additional 40 new fire appliances at a cost of €20.8m.
Fire station projects at Ballyjamesduff and Ballybay were prioritised by Cavan and Monaghan County Councils respectively for inclusion in the 2021 – 2025 Capital programme. Cavan County Council was approved circa €1.75 million to fund the construction of a new Ballyjamesduff Fire station. Monaghan County Council was approved circa €3.26 million to fund the construction of a new fire station at Ballybay.
In the lifetime of the 2021 – 2025 Fire Services Capital Programme, to date Cavan Fire Service has received circa €575,000 in capital funding to support the purchase of frontline appliances and equipment including a new Brigade Mechanics van and funding for the allocation of a new Class B fire tender under the 2021 – 2023 Office of Government Procurement (OGP) framework.
Cavan Fire Service has also received funding approval for approximately €1.3 million to support the planned purchase of appliances and equipment as detailed below, including a further allocation of two new Class B fire tenders under the 2023 – 2025 OGP Framework.
Cavan Outstanding Approvals
|
Application Number |
Category |
Description |
Approval |
|
2023-03 |
App & Equip |
Water Tanker |
€ 246,000.00 |
|
2023-63 |
App & Equip |
2023 - 2025 Class B OGP Framework |
€ 520,000.00 |
|
2023-65 |
App & Equip |
2023 - 2025 Class B OGP Framework |
€ 520,000.00 |
In the lifetime of the 2021 – 2025 Fire Services Capital Programme to date Monaghan Fire Service has received circa €1.4 million in capital funding to support the purchase of frontline appliances and equipment including funding for a new Emergency tender appliance and the allocation of a new Class B fire tender under the 2021 – 2023 Office of Government Procurement (OGP) framework.
Monaghan Fire Service has also received funding approval for circa €940,000 to support the planned purchase of appliances and equipment as detailed below, including the allocation of a further new Class B fire tender under the 2023 – 2025 OGP Framework.
Monaghan Outstanding Claims
|
Application Number |
Type |
Description |
Approval |
|
2023-07 |
App & Equip |
Emergency Tender |
€ 72,570.00 |
|
2023-29 |
Fire Station |
Vehicle Storage Facility Monaghan Fire Station |
€ 85,000.00 |
|
2023-30 |
Fire Station |
Station Welfare Upgrades |
€ 125,460.00 |
|
2023-99 |
App & Equip |
2023 - 2025 Class B OGP Framework |
€ 520,000.00 |
|
2024-32 |
Fire Station |
Carrickmacross station resin flooring |
€ 40,000.00 |
|
2024-47 |
App & Equip |
Firefighting Breathing Apparatus Sets |
€ 26,500.00 |
|
2024-47 |
App & Equip |
Breathing Apparatus Sets |
€ 26,500.00 |
|
2024-54 |
App & Equip |
Breathing Apparatus Cylinders |
€ 43,271.00 |