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Batt O'Keeffe Welcomes Support for Fire Safety in Irish College Houses

01/02/07

Fire Safety Regulations, which were laid down last year.  The support applies only to those houses recognised under the Irish Language Learners Scheme.

The Minister said, "Fire safety is of paramount importance in all dwellings but particularly where you will have relatively large numbers of young people gathered together.  The "Mna Ti" has become a traditional feature of Gaeltacht life, but this new initiative will ensure that their houses will meet the highest fire safety standards."

Details of the new schemes are as follows:

  • The Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs will cover 75% of the cost of the survey carried out on the houses when the guidelines were announced.
  • The Department will cover the costs of employing an engineer to advise the Irish colleges and the "mna ti" on the new guidelines.
  • A special grant of up to €20,000 on the mainland and €25,000 on the Gaeltacht Islands in order to carry out the necessary work required by the guidelines.  In addition the seven year rule applied under the Housing Acts (Gaeltacht) will not apply.

From now on, these guidelines regarding fire safety must be put into effect all over the house.  There are recommendations in the guidelines relating to building layout, fire prevention facilities, fire safety management and other measures to decrease the risk that fire poses to people's lives.  In the case of a fire, the guidelines recommend that an effective fire alarm and emergency exit system be in place in the house and that emergency procedures in case of fire are agreed on.
ENDS
01/02/07


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Press and Information Office
Tel: (01) 888 2638  (direct)
(01) 888 2000
E-Mail: press-office@environ.irlgov.ie

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