COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 14, 2013

MOTION NO. 2

MOTION: Councillor D. Looney

MAYOR'S BUSINESS

That this Council expresses its concern regarding the resourcing of the fire service covering South Dublin County, in particular the new requirement for staff at Tallaght Fire Station to tend to fires in part of County Kildare, and calls on Dublin City Council, Kildare County Council and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to reconsider this requirement in light of concerns expressed by firefighters regarding the overstretching of cover for this area.

REPORT:

Kildare Fire Service (KFS) recently migrated emergency call answering to the East Regional Control Center (ERCC). As part of this initiative Kildare Fire Service analysed all areas within the county to implement the policy of 'nearest fire station' responding to an incident.  This revision indicated that Tallaght Fire Station (single Pump) was the nearest fire appliance resource for a small area of Kildare. Dublin Fire Brigade would have responded to this area previously on request. 

The formalisation of this response will require periodic provision of a single pump turnout from Tallaght station. Historical activity data and operational intelligence would indicate that the impact on Tallaght station will be minimal. Tallaght station had 4074 mobilisations last year; historical date would indicate an average requirement level of 20 mobilisations annually by Tallaght in support of Kildare.  This activity will see an increase of response levels at less than 0.5% of incident activity for the station.

No more than one DFB pump will form part of a dedicated PDA for Kildare, thus ensuring fire cover is maintained or supplemented for the Tallaght fire station area at all times.

As is the practice within Dublin if mobilisations to an incident results in stripping fire cover for a DFB station area, the DFB mobilisation officer will ensure immediate stand-by fire cover is provided.  This movement of fire appliances to back-up or provide cover is accepted practise and maximises efficiency of available resources. Tallaght fire station is regularly supported by fire crews from other neighbouring fire stations such as Dolphins Barn, Rathfarnham, Blanchardstown and fire brigade HQ Townsend Street.