423. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the necessity for BA Communications for fire fighters to communicate with each other over radio in a fire emergency; when this essential equipment will be rolled out through Dublin Fire Brigade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42423/24]

The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Acts, 1981 & 2003.

My Department supports fire authorities through general policy-setting and preparing legislation, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects, appliances and equipment.

In February 2024, my Department approved a tender competition for the national procurement of handheld radios, with Dublin City Council acting as the lead contracting authority. Each local authority fire service is named in the tender document to allow them to draw down from it should they so wish.

I understand that, following an extensive procurement process, a tender competition was recently completed with a preferred supplier selected.

Dublin City Council, as the lead contracting authority, is managing this procurement process and it will be a matter for the Dublin City Councils and all local authorities to manage their own draw downs from the framework to meet their needs.