COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, July 10, 2017
QUESTION NO.20
QUESTION: Councillor M. Ward
Can the Chief Executive provide a report into the fire audit it is conducting in traveller accommodation. This report should include what progress has been made, what recommendations have been made, what breeches of fire safety regulations were found, what barriers is resulting in the fire audit not being completed and how does the Council propose to overcome these barriers.
REPLY:
Following the Carrickmines tragedy in October 2015 Dublin Fire Brigade undertook a fire audit of all traveller accommodation within the County.
Following the audit 110 caravan/mobile/chalets were fitted with smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and fire blankets by the Council. The Audit also indicated a number of actions which have now been completed
|
Action |
Status |
Timeframe |
Dependencies/Comment |
Resources |
|
Inspections of all units |
Complete |
N/A |
No issues |
DFB/TAU |
|
Fire awareness training to be provided with DFB |
Complete |
N/A |
Will be provided on ongoing basis in consultation with Local Traveller Dev. Groups. |
DFB/TAU |
|
Distribution of fire safety leaflets |
Complete |
N/A |
Distributed to Local Traveller Dev Groups for circulation by Primary Health Care staff. |
DFB/TAU |
|
Fire Extinguishers in all bays / Sites |
Complete |
Medium-term (6 weeks - 6 months) |
Already in place in official sites but not unofficial. Will now be installed in other sites |
Contract |
|
Inspection and refurbishment of all extinguishers |
Complete |
Medium-term (6 weeks - 6 months) |
Annual Inspection in place for existing sites, will seek to increase to twice annually in new contract. |
Contract |
|
Installation of Smoke, CO2 and Fire blanket |
Complete |
Immediate (<6 weeks) |
An individual bag made up of a fire blanket, CO2 Alarm and Smoke detector will be delivered to each caravan/house in SDCC's area. Installation will be carried out to any caravan/house if so permitted or desired. |
Housing Staff will install when smoke/CO2 alarm and Fire Blankets are received. |
Funding has also been requested from the Department of Housing for the following items:
- Installation of external sounders/alarms on day units.
- Provision of steel cages for storage of bottled gas.
- External signage for Fire Assembly points
To date the main breeches of fire safety have been in the case of overcrowding
- Caravans may not be 6 metres apart
- No fire break walls between caravans in some cases.
- Incorrect extension cables being used by tenants in caravans who are connecting them into houses.
The main barrier encountered to date is that we have not been permitted to inspect a small number of units. This has now been overcome and a fire safety report is awaited in respect of those units.
Funding to complete the works identified above has been sought and is expected. These works will be undertaken in the coming months. We are continuing to work closely with Tallaght Travellers & Clondalkin Travellers to resolve any fire safety issues within traveller accommodation