Due to the ever-evolving situation regarding COVID-19, the Fire Authority have made some changes to the procedure for annual licensing.

For premises that are opening, the following advice refers to the servicing of the fire detection and alarm system, emergency lighting system and fire extinguishers in the premises as part of the annual licence renewal;

• For premises that do not have to make an application to the District Court for the renewal of their licence i.e Publican’s licence: completed service records for the fire detection and alarm system, emergency lighting system and fire extinguishers shall be kept in the Fire Safety Register on the premises and may be subject to inspection by the Fire Officer. There is no need to submit the service records to the Fire Authority. The same requirement applies to restaurants who have a restaurant licence.
• For premises that do have to make an application to the District Court for the renewal of their licence i.e. Club Licence, Dance Licence, Music & Singing Licence, Gaming & Lottery Licence: a copy of the completed service records for the fire detection and alarm system, emergency lighting system and fire extinguishers shall be submitted to the Licensee’s Solicitor who will be making the licence renewal application on their behalf at the District Court during September 2020. The Solicitor shall submit a copy of the completed service records to the Fire Authority as part of the “Notice of Application” for the licence renewal.

For premises that are open, we would remind owners and management of their fire safety obligations under Section 18(2) of the Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003 which states that;

“It shall be duty of every person having control over premises to which this section applies to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on such premises, and to ensure as far as reasonably practicable the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire”.

Inspections of licensed premises may be carried out at the discretion of the Fire Authority. Please ensure that your complete Fire Safety Register is available for inspection. Kildare Fire Authority will lodge objections to licence renewals where serious fire safety issues are encountered.