It is not unusual in rural areas for people to live 15 minutes away from a fire station, but it is practically unheard of in built-up urban areas. That is, unless they live in Ballincollig in Cork city, one of the State’s 25 largest population centres. Ballincollig fire station was closed two years ago in November 2021. Since then, Cork city has had its fourth fire pump reinstated, but it is not based in Ballincollig, even during the daytime, which was indicated as a possibility, or even a likelihood, when the pump was put back in place. I would not like to be a resident of Ballincollig trapped in a burning house 15 minutes away from the nearest fire truck. The more than 16,000 residents in the town deserve better. What action does the Government intend to take or will consider taking if Cork City Council continues to refuse to act on this issue?

That is probably a matter for Cork City Council rather than central government, but I will let the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, know it was raised and ask them to revert to Deputy Barry with a further reply.