Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
695. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current position in relation to the construction of a new project in County Laois (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39507/26]
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 & 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. Project consideration stages from a Department perspective include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of a site; application for approval in principle; appointment of design consultants; submission of a preliminary design; planning application; submission of a preliminary cost plan, detailed design and cost plans; and tender process and construction stages - each step subject to approval from my Department.In April 2026, I announced the Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2026-2030, with a funding allocation of €328.5m. 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.New fire stations for Stradbally and Rathdowney have been prioritised for funding under the Fire Services Capital Programme 2026 – 2030. I understand Laois County Council signed contracts for the construction of the new Stradbally Fire station in April 2026 and broke ground on the project in recent days. Regarding the Rathdowney fire station project, my Department conveyed approval to progress the project to full design and cost plan stage earlier this year. It is Laois County Council's expectation that they will seek approval to appoint design consultants for the new Rathdowney fire station in the coming months.My Department will work closely with Laois County Council to progress their identified priority infrastructural projects during the lifetime of the fire service Capital programme 2026 -2030, within the context of the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide for capital funding.
