COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, May 19, 2008

MOTION NO. 3

MOTION: Councillor E. Maloney

That this Committee supports the need for additional resources for the Fire Service in Tallaght. 

REPORT:

The Senior Engineer, Dublin City Council with responsibility for the Fire Service was requested to report on the above motion and has reported as follows:

"Dublin Fire Service operates on a regional basis covering the area of Dublin City and County. Tallaght district is served by the fire station at Belgard Road with backup provided predominantly by Dolphin’s Barn and Rathfarnham.

 In January 2001 having regard to the unprecedented level of population growth and domestic and commercial development in the South Dublin area the existing fire station in Tallaght was upgraded to a two pump station.

 Over the past 3 years fire appliances have attended to over 15,600 incidents in the Tallaght area.  These incidents consist of domestic fires, car fires, road traffic accidents, small fires (bins, skips etc) and a wide variety of other incidents at which emergency assistance is required.

 In addition to two fire appliances there is also an emergency ambulance based in Belgard Road.  All Dublin firefighters are also fully trained paramedics.  Last year over 12,800 medical incidents were dealt with by Dublin Fire Brigade Ambulances in the South Dublin Area.

 Proposals are at an advanced stage for the construction of a new fire station at Belgard Road.  When the new fire station is completed and fully operational, there will be an opportunity to develop the site of the existing station.  Currently there is increasing demand to provide facilities in the areas of community fire safety, emergency planning and civil defence and these issues will be factored into future development plans.

The level of resources, fire cover and response times are monitored on an ongoing basis by Dublin Fire Brigade.  Despite the increase in population over the last number of years, the number of fire and rescue responses by the Fire Brigade over a five-year period has remained virtually static.

Dublin Fire Brigade in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government are currently procuring a Risk Based Analysis System, which will assist us in carrying out a detailed fire cover study for the region in the near future.  The results of this study will be forwarded to South Dublin County Council."