Major review of fire safety strategy

The new Bill to regulate the licensing of indoor events is to be introduced as part of a major review of fire safety strategies in the Republic, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, announced yesterday.

The Bill will coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Republic's worst indoor disaster, the Stardust fire on St Valentine's night, February 14th, 1981, in which 48 people lost their lives.

The aim of the Bill is to make provision for a new system of licensing of certain indoor events, which would make enforcement of fire safety regulations more effective.

In addition to the Bill, the Minister is to commission a strategic review of fire services in the Republic. He also announced that 2001 would see the highest fire services capital spending programme to date, at £15 million.

Included in the list of items covered by the allocation are 40 new fire tenders at a cost of £8 million. Money will also be spent on the development of a computerised call-out system to cover the State and will be completed in 2002. It is intended to refurbish existing stations and commission 10 new ones.