Earlier this week, the Mayor of Donegal Cllr. John Boyle, acknowledged the assistance of the community and voluntary sector in the roll out of the Community Smoke Alarm Scheme in Donegal.
In 2007, Tony Killeen T.D., Minister for State at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, sanctioned funding for the installation of smoke alarms in vulnerable households nationwide.
Most deaths caused by house fires, can be prevented if a working smoke alarm is installed in the home. On average 46 people die in fires nationally each year. Statistics show that 20% of households do not have a working smoke alarm installed. Speaking at the event, Acting Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Bobby McMenamin stated that “it is very important for neighbours visiting older people to check if the smoke alarms are operating or need a battery”.
Mr. Michael McLoone, County Manager, Donegal County Council acknowledged the important contribution of the community and voluntary sector, stating “that it is the community and voluntary organisations who have the intelligence on the ground of the needs of their community and they were of great help to Donegal County Council in identifying the vulnerable households for this particular scheme. This scheme has been a resounding success in other parts of the country and we, in Donegal, are delighted to have the opportunity to build on this success and to contribute to fire safety in the home. Smoke alarms can save lives”.
In Donegal, the personnel in the Community & Enterprise Division of Donegal County Council, in consultation with the Acting Chief Fire Officer and the Housing Directorate, is responsible for administering the scheme.
A total of 19 community and voluntary organisations submitted applications for smoke alarms, with the number requesting smoke alarms far exceeding the number of alarms available in phase one of the scheme. These requests are now on a waiting list for phase two of the scheme, which will be rolled out later this year. In early 2008, the community and voluntary organisations installed two self contained battery operated smoke alarms in 250 households throughout Donegal and a further 250 households will benefit from the scheme by the end of 2008. Therefore, by the end of 2008, a total of 500 households in Donegal will have benefited from this smoke alarm scheme.
For further information contact:
Ms Michelle McGill,
Community, Culture & Enterprise,
Donegal County Council,
Station Island,
Lifford,
Co Donegal.
Tel: 074 91 72568 or E-mail: michellem@donegalcoco.ie