Alan Kelly announces €40m for fire services

Minister for Environment Alan Kelly has announced €40million for 16 new and 10 refurbished fire stations, to be provided over the next five years.

The new stations are to be built at Tuam and Loughrea,Co Galway; Macroom, Clonakilty and Kanturk in Co Cork; Virginia and Ballyjamesduff in Co Cavan; Cashel, Co Tipperary; New Ross, Co Wexford; Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford; Nobber, Co Meath; Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim; Castleblayney Co Monaghan; Urlingford, Co Kilkenny; Crossmolina, Co Mayo and Dunleer, Co Louth.

Existing stations are to be refurbished at Killarney, Co Kerry; Ballinasloe, Co Galway; Dunshaughlin, Co Meath; Muine Bheag, Co Carlow; Mountmellick and Mountrath, Co Laois; Ballinamore and Drumshambo, Co Leitrim; Oldcastle and Kilkee, Co Meath.

The work is in addition to new stations announced last year for Templemore, Co Tipperary; Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny, and Ferbane, Co Offaly, planning for which is under way.

Mr Kelly said over the last five years no capital works had been carried out as a result of the financial crisis. He was happy to approve the latest development even if they “got in just before the bell” concluded the work of the current Government.

Asked about the scheduling of the work from this year onwards after the life of the present administration, Mr Kelly said the money represented about €8 million per year “because that’s the amount we can see for this year and next”. He was convinced in subsequent years there would be even more more than €8 million available for capital funding.

On the absence of Dublin stations from the funding plan, Mr Kelly said the Dublin stations were generally in “good” condition.

Fire sources said they were disappointed there was no allocation for refurbishment or rebuilding of the fire station at North Strand in Dublin, which has been costed at €5million.

Sources said there were 14 stations across four local authorities in Dublin, with a complement of almost 1,000 fire officers who also ran an ambulance service for a population of €1million .

In recent years the ban on recruitment has resulted in the Dublin service being down about 70 officers, but training has resumed this year for an initial intake of 50 firefighters.