asked the Minister for the Environment whether the Government have any proposals to replace or amend the Fire Brigades Act, 1940; and, if so, the intent of such proposals and the stage they have reached.

11.

asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals the Government have to implement the suggestions contained in the report on the fire services, 1975.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.

As regards the report on the fire services which was published in July 1975, I would remind the Deputy that it comprised a majority and five minority reports, and that there were differences between the different reports on imporant issues in the area of personnel matters, including recruitment and reporting relationships. While every effort has been and is being made to secure acceptable solutions on such issues through the relevant conciliation machinery, difficulties arising from conflicts between the different staff interests and aspirations have been encountered and have prevented the attainment of the progress sought. But the matters will continue to be actively pursued through the conciliation machinery under which local authority personnel issues are dealt with.

As regards the other recommendations in the majority report, action has also been taken on virtually all of them. For example, arrangements were made in September 1976 for the carrying out by local authorities of the local reviews of the fire service as recommended in the report. Capital investment in the fire service was significantly increased in 1978 and has been maintained at a high level since. I recently announced the introduction of a 50 per cent subsidy on fire service capital investment. The Fire Prevention Council were established in July 1978 to promote fire safety. The central training programme has been considerably expanded to supplement local training and special attention has been given to breathing apparatus courses. Guidelines were issued in 1977 for planning of retained fire stations and in 1980 for recruit training. A pilot study on fire service telecommunications was completed last year and action has been initiated with a view to implementing the improvements it recommended. Work is well advanced on the preparation of a number of other guidelines.

One of the main recommendations of the report suggested that the fire-fighting provisions of the Fire Brigades Act, 1940 should be reviewed. Various other recommendations also involved amendment of the law, including a number of those concerned with fire prevention. Preparation of proposals for new fire service legislation has been proceeding for some time and I am glad to say that the general scheme of a Bill was recently approved by the Government and work on drafting it is now under way. While I cannot give details of the Bill at this stage, the recommendations of the report have been taken into account in its preparation.

Is this the same Bill that the Minister referred to in reply to Question No. 9?

Yes.

And it will be circulated within a month?

Yes.