COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 08, 2010

QUESTION NO.1

QUESTION: Councillor S. Crowe

To ask the Manager in view of the significant cuts in Public Service workers and Emergency Service workers, the Government also announced in the recent budget a 10% cut in local authority funding for fire and emergency services, can the Manager in conjunction with the Fire Service, give a report on when this cut will be introduced and how this particular cut combined with the jobs replacement moratorium is and will effect the roll out of emergency services for residents living in this Local Authority area?

REPLY:

The 10% cut in Local Authority funding for Fire and Emergency Services,  relates to Capital Funding, e.g. purchase of appliances, building programmes etc.  While the Minister has not as yet announced the 2010 allocation of capital monies to each Fire Authority, the indications are that sufficient funding will be available to meet the capital requirements of Dublin Fire Brigade. 

In relation to numbers employed, Dublin Fire Brigade, in common with all Local Authority Services, are operating under severe financial constraints.  To date the level of service has been maintained, through a combination of limited recruitment and improved efficiency measures agreed with staff and Trade Unions. 

The process of identifying efficiencies conitinues with the Dublin Authorities having recently engaged the services of Sir Ken Knight, Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor to the U.K. Government, to carry out a high level review of the Dublin Fire Services and to advise on best practices internationally. 

 It is hoped that with the continued co-operation of all staff, the implementation of measures contained in the review will sustain and improve the high level of service currently provided