The Minister of the Interior Sandis Ģirģens points out that the government's support for the Ministry of the Interior's information report "On Structural Reforms in the Interior Sector" today is a historic moment and a positive signal for the improvement of the interior infrastructure, which has not been done systematically in recent decades.
Government support will allow the implementation of a new standard fire station of the State Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), where several institutions and services of the Ministry of the Interior, as well as the Emergency Medical Service and the Municipal Police will be located in one building. The project solution envisages the construction of modular buildings with the possibility to supplement any standard project with additional necessary premises for the needs of other services, thus creating service centers where institutions of the Ministry of the Interior and, if necessary, institutions of other sectors are located.
"Nothing in the country can be more important than saving people's lives. At the same time, this Home Affairs Reform Plan approved by the Government is a survival plan, which envisages a significant improvement in the ability of the Home Affairs Services to respond, ensuring a technical material base and availability in all regions of Latvia that meets modern requirements. The state currently maintains buildings that are even in a slum condition, such as those built two centuries ago. Our solution envisages the construction of new or renovation of existing 50 depots in 49 cities, which will also allow to perform the function of a good and careful owner and reduce maintenance costs in the long run, so that they can be directed to solving other acute problems in the industry. We are ready to start the implementation of the project as soon as the approval for the allocation of funds is received, ”points out Sandis Ģirģens.
Today, the Cabinet of Ministers (CM) reviewed and supported the informative report “On Structural Reforms in the Interior Sector” prepared by the Ministry of the Interior, which envisages construction of 50 new facilities, including 43 interior service centers, 6 separate fire depots and Fire and Civil Protection Colleges ( UCAK) building. According to the preliminary calculations of the Ministry of the Interior, approximately 231.5 mln. euro.
In turn, the SFRS needs 70 million euros from the EU funds for the renewal of the obsolete transport fleet. Currently, 107 SFRS vehicles based on ZIL chassis are in rescue operations and are in critical condition.
The new buildings are planned to be built as near-zero energy consumption buildings, where the energy efficiency index for heating corresponds to class A, at the same time envisaging the use of both heat recovery and renewable energy resources in the buildings, installing solar panels and ground source heat pumps where permitted. Consequently, the growing CO2 emissions in Latvia will be reduced.
In large Latvian cities, it is planned to house several services in one building: SFRS, State Police (VP), State Border Guard, Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, Emergency Medical Service, State Security Agency (SEA) and Information Center of the Ministry of the Interior. On the other hand, according to the population in smaller cities, it is planned to build buildings where only SFRS and VP will be located.
Most of the buildings owned by the Ministry of the Interior are in poor technical condition, they have a high degree of wear and tear (significant damage to the load-bearing structures, roof, facade and engineering networks), which increases the maintenance costs of these buildings every year. Such buildings pose a threat to public and personal safety, health and life. Therefore, it is necessary to renovate or rebuild these buildings.
Prepared by:
Maris Zarins
Ministry of the Interior
Head of Communication Department
Phone: 67219213
Mob .: 29120858
E-mail: maris.zarins@iem.gov.lv