Castlerea fire station closure
Deputy Kerrane challenged the reasons given for the permanent closure of Castlerea fire station and said she had seen a different explanation at council level. The Tánaiste said he would raise her concerns with the Minister and ask for direct engagement.
After being closed on a temporary basis in 2017, Castlerea fire station in my constituency was permanently closed last July. I raised the matter here at the time. In parliamentary question replies and correspondence to me since, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, consistently stated the fire station was closed due to internal staffing matters. He is either being misled or misinformed because I attended the council meeting at which the announcement was made and it was done following a review of the fire ground in Castlerea, which apparently indicated we no longer need a fire service.
Castlerea is the second-largest town in County Roscommon and it also has one of the largest prisons in the State. There is now no prison in the State further away from a fire station than the prison in Castlerea. Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, at least to read the report that led to the closure of the fire station and consider reviewing the decision?
Comment on this
I am aware of the concerns about Castlerea fire station and Senator Aisling Dolan has raised the matter as well. I do not personally know the details but I will certainly speak to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and let him know this was raised by the Deputy in the Chamber and ask him to engage with her directly on it.