COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, January 14, 2019

QUESTION NO. 12

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Exectuive to table a report on plans for the continued provision of fire services in the County through 2019 and will he make a statement in the matter.

REPLY:

As South Dublin Council is in a formal “Section 85” arrangement with Dublin City Council in respect of the delivery of the fire service, Dublin City Council undertakes Fire Services functions on behalf of this Council, and as such is responsible for the making of the Fire Service Emergency Operational Plan on our behalf under Section 26 Fire Services Act 1981.

This plan details a schedule of all organisational elements of the provision of fire and emergency operations and depicts the required organisation structure, personnel, equipment, fire stations, water supplies, training, procedures, all resources and other related matters. The current plan details existing  arrangements within the fire authority and also set out strategic plans and targets for the fire authority for 5 years.

Dublin Fire Services (DFS) also provides emergency ambulance and rescue service for the 4 Dublin Local Authorities, servicing a total population of circa 1.37m. DFS has a staff of approximately 1,000 and operates on an annual budget of €126m (2018 Budget) of which SDCC contributes 18.47% of the nett costs.

Based on prediction the SDCC 2019 budget provision / contribution is €19,621,200.

DFS provide a fully integrated Fire based Ambulance and EMS service and its Fire Protect/Prevention Activity includes

During 2017 DFB responded to 2,815 fire related incidents covering Fires / Flooding / Medical/RTAs/ Special Services and 12,919 ambulance related incidents within the SDCC administrative area. During Storm Emma (28/2 - 04/03/2018) DFB responded to 286 incidents within the SDCC administrative area.

As on previous occasions if the Members so wish, the Council can issue an invitation to DFS to make a presentation to the Council in relation to the delivery of the service, particularly within the SDCC administrative area.   The last such presentation was delivered to this Council at the March 2018 OP&F meeting.