Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group

8.5.4 In the submissions to the Group, a number of services were suggested as
possible areas where the shared regional service or ‘lead authority’
approach could be extended. These included:
• Fire services;
• Homelessness services;
• Higher education grants; and
• Building inspectorates (combining local authorities’ planning
enforcement, building control, and derelict site inspection role);
• Internal audit;
• Motor tax.
8.5.5 The Group considers that the potential for greater collaboration between
county and city councils at a regional level in these areas needs to be
evaluated in order to assess whether this would yield cost savings and
service improvements. These are relatively specialised areas of work and
could, therefore, be candidates for the shared service model.
Fire
8.5.6 The deployment of fire services personnel in 220 stations across the country
in many respects reflects the legacy of station locations from an earlier time.
While many new stations have been built in new communities, there
remains a considerable historical legacy reflecting the requirements and
roads infrastructure of the past.
8.5.7 The Group notes the introduction of new structures at national level for the
leadership and management of Fire Services through the establishment of
the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management. The
approach builds on the experiences gained in recent years through the
development of national approaches and systems and the local delivery of
these by fire authorities, for example, the development and operation of the
Framework for Major Emergency Management which was used successfully
by local authorities during the severe weather emergencies in winter 2009-
2010.
8.5.8 There has been a significant investment programme in station and
equipment infrastructure, including appliances in recent years. The current
fleet compares favourably with international comparisons. With the
exceptions of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford cities which
have full-time services, and Drogheda and Dundalk which have a combined
full-time and retained service, all other fire services are provided throughout
Ireland by retained services. There are 1,000 full-time firefighters and some
2,000 retained personnel overall. The retained services provide a cost
effective model of service delivery where to a substantial degree a
contingent rather than continuous capability is required.
8.5.9 It is understood that the Management Board of the National Directorate is
developing a multi-annual development plan which will advance work across
all areas of delivery. This work includes adoption of a new risk based
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