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Updated to 23 October 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 506 of 2025)

Fire Services Act 1981
No. 30 of 1981

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Ss. 1-23 1 January 1982 Fire Services Act 1981 (Commencement) Order 1981 (S.I. No. 430 of 1981), art. 2(1)
S. 24 1 April 1982 Fire Services Act 1981 (Commencement) Order 1981 (S.I. No. 430 of 1981), art. 2(2)
Ss. 25-38 1 January 1982 Fire Services Act 1981 (Commencement) Order 1981 (S.I. No. 430 of 1981), art. 2(1)

Amendments and other effects

How Affected Affecting Provision
Appl. 31/2005, s. 95(8), (9)
Certain references to "sanitary authority" construed as references to "Irish Water" 50/2013, ss. 1(3), 6, 7(4)
Certain functions transferred to Mayor of Limerick  7/2024, ss. 1(3), 10, & sch. 1 part 2
Functns. conferred on local authorities. 37/2001, ss. 7, 63(2)(a)(i), sch. 12, pt. 1
Saver S.I. No. 28 of 2008, regs. 1 , 31 (col. cit.)
  S.I. No. 299 of 2007, regs.1 (2), 12, 13 (col. cit.)
  S.I. No. 504 of 2006, regs.1 (2), 31 (1), 45 (1)(col. cit.)
  S.I. No. 550 of 2004, regs. 2 & 8(4)
  S.I. No. 481 of 2001, reg. 1(2) & sch. 4, pars. 3, 4
Trans. of cert. functns. under S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1
S. 2(1) am. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 24
S. 5 s. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 25
S. 6(1) am. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 26
S. 9(1)(c) rep. 31/1993, ss. 1(5), 4, sch. 1
S. 10 restrictions on performance of reserved function under S.I. No. 231 of 2014, regs. 2, 6-10
S. 10 reserved function conferred 37/2001, ss. 131, 131A, sch. 14A pt. 3 (see also 1/2014, ss. 1(22), 21(4), sch. 3)
S. 10 constr. of refs. am. 37/2001, ss. 7, 88 (2)
S. 12 am. 24/1983, s. 8(1), sch., 4, pt. 1
S. 13 amended 34/2024, ss. 1(3), 631, schedule 7, ref. no. 6
S. 13 s. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 27
S. 16(2)(e) ins. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 28
S. 16(2)(f) ins. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 28
S. 17(5), rep. with conds. 2/1999, s. 197, sch. 6, col. 3
S. 18 appl. to use of premises as factory within meaning of Safety in Industry Acts 1955 and 1980 S. I. No. 319 of 1989, reg. 2
S. 18(1)(f)(i) rep. 7/1989, ss. 1(2), 55(1)(a)
S. 18(1)(f) am. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 29(a)
S. 18(2) substit. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 29(b)
S. 18(5) - (12) ins. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 29(c)
S. 18A, new s. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 31
S. 19(2)(b) rep. 7/1989, ss. 1(2), 55(1)(b)
S. 19(2)(c), (d), (e) del. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 34
S. 20 application extended S.I. No. 631 of 2019, regs. 1(3), 14(2)
  S.I. No. 630 of 2019, regs. 1(3), 19(2)
S. 20(4) form Prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 92, rl. 3, forms 92.1, 92.2, sch. C
S. 20A application extended S.I. No. 631 of 2019, regs. 1(3), 14(2)
  S.I. No. 630 of 2019, regs. 1(3), 19(2)
S. 20A new s. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 30
S. 21 form Prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 92, rl. 4, forms 92.3, 92.4, sch. C
S. 21A new s. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 32
S. 22(7) form Prescribed S.I. No. 93 of 1997, ord. 92, rl. 5, forms 15.3, sch. B, 92.5, sch. C
S. 24 appl. 16/1988, ss. 5, 20
S. 24(1)(d) repealed 35/2024, S. 1(2), S. 10, sch. 2, part 1, ref. 11
S. 24(2) ins. 26/1986, ss. 9, 10(5), sch. 1
S. 26 restrictions on performance of reserved function under S.I. No. 231 of 2014, regs. 2, 6-10
S. 26 reserved function conferred 37/2001, ss. 131, 131A, sch. 14A pt. 3 (see also 1/2014, ss. 1(22), 21(4), sch. 3)
S. 35(1) rep. 31/1993, ss. 1(5), 4, sch. 1
S. 35(2) (in pt.) rep. 31/1993, ss. 1(5), 4, sch. 1
S. 38 s. 15/2003, ss. 1(3), 33

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 3 Fire Services Act, 1981 (Prescribed Premises) Regulations 1989 (S.I. No. 319 of 1989)
S. 16 The Fire Services Council (Establishment) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 175 of 1983)
S. 18 Fire Services Act, 1981 (Prescribed Premises) Regulations 1989 (S.I. No. 319 of 1989)
S. 27(4) Fire Authorities (Emergency Operations) Regulations 1987 (S.I. No. 210 of 1987)
S. 37 Fire Safety in Places of Assembly (Ease of Escape) Regulations 1985 (S.I. No. 249 of 1985)