COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, December 14, 2009
QUESTION NO. 3
QUESTION: Councillor S. Crowe
To ask the Manager is he aware, in this climate of cuts in services, of the proposed reduction of Ambulance Services in Tallaght Fire Station and in view of the large population in this catchment area, that is reliant on this quick and immediate service, will he outline to the relevent authorities this Councils concern at this proposal?
REPLY:
Dublin Fire Brigade provides fire, ambulance, emergency and rescue services throughout the Dublin City and County Region. The service operates from 12 full time and 2 retained stations, employing over 1,000 staff. The ambulance service is the responsibility of the HSE however their contribution does not cover the cost of the service and the four Dublin Authorities are therefore subsidising the service.
The costs are shared between the four Dublin Local Authorities on the basis of commercial valuation, population and numbers of householders. A contribution is also received from the HSE in relation to the ambulance service. The ambulance service is the responsibility of the HSE however their contribution does not cover the cost of the service and the four Dublin Authorities are therefore subsidising the service.
The total Dublin City Council budget for the service and apportionment of costs is set out in the table below -
| Dublin City Council Budget Outturn | 2009 |
| Payroll Costs | 109,910,379 |
| Operations | 11,575,700 |
| Provision of Buildings/Equipment | 2,355,900 |
| Operation of Ambulance Service | 1,609,400 |
| Service Support Costs | 3,855,679 |
| Total Cost of Fire Service | 129,307,058 |
| Service Funding Sources | |
| DLR | 16,273,866 |
| Fingal | 20,789,417 |
| SDCC | 20,700,000 |
| Dublin City | 54,007,775 |
| HSE | 9,306,000 |
| Other income | 8,230,000 |
| Total Funding | 129,307,058 |
The South Dublin County Council contribution to this service in 2009 is expected to come to €20,700,000. This cost has risen substantially over recent years as can be seen from the table below -
| 2001 | € 11,383,787 |
| 2002 | € 12,030,004 |
| 2003 | € 13,551,786 |
| 2004 | € 15,411,191 |
| 2005 | € 15,624,628 |
| 2006 | € 16,782,000 |
| 2007 | € 17,842,807 |
| 2008 | € 18,968,983 |
| 2009 (projected) | € 20,700,000 |
South Dublin County Council has been engaging with it’s partners in relation to reviewing the level of costs in this service. Areas being examined are the same areas as are being examined throughout this Councils service and include –
- the level of staffing in the context of staff embargo and non-replacement policies/early retirement schemes etc,
- work practices,
- overtime and allowance arrangements,
- service levels and mobilisations,
- availability of resources and income sources
- fleet management and replacement programmes,
- facility management and usage
In such a critical service area, the quality of the service provided is paramount and is the key focus of process of reviewing the operation of the service. In a climate of reducing resources, management of the Fire Service must deliver the most efficient service possible thereby ensuring the most effective service is available in the protection of the public and property.
The Council is not aware of a proposal to reduce the ambulance service available to the county. As stated, the Council is involved in a process, not to cut services, but to ensure the optimum level of service is provided while minimising the substantial costs to the region.