The main recommendations of the Farrell Grant Sparks Strategic Review of Fire Safety and Fire Services in Ireland:
- A new State authority for Fire and Civil Protection.
- The development of a "risk-based" approach to determining the levels of fire cover required.
- A greater focus of existing agencies on prevention as opposed to response.
- Improvements to emergency staff recruitment, training and facilities.
- The functions of building control and fire prevention at local authority level should be combined.
- New structure for major emergency planning at State and local level.
- Best-practice targets based on international models should be set and monitored.
- The needs of fire stations in terms of facilities and equipment to be co-ordinated.
- The co-ordination and development of relevant information technology and management information systems for the fire service as a whole.