Rathdowney fire station has been waiting for more than two decades for a replacement. A site was acquired in 2003, Part 8 approval is complete and Laois County Council has prioritised Rathdowney for the 2026 to 2030 fire service capital programme. The current station is outdated, overcrowded and lacks proper facilities for female staff, despite having the largest number of female fire fighters in the county. Rathdowney crews continue to provide an excellent service to a wide area of homes, schools, farms and businesses. A new station is essential to provide proper training conditions, adequate facilities and a stronger response capacity. Will the Tánaiste commit to prioritising and funding the construction of the new Rathdowney fire station? Will he provide a clear timeline for when its long overdue funding will be released? The Tánaiste mentioned that today is our first anniversary of being elected. Would it not be lovely for him to stand up in his response to say "Yes" to me and that he has a clear timeframe for doing something?

No pressure, Tánaiste.

I thank Deputy Aird for all the work he has been doing over the course of the past year, keeping us under pressure in terms of many projects that are important to the people of Laois, who gave him such a resounding mandate a year ago and I acknowledge this. I thank him for raising this important matter with me. I know it is an issue he has been campaigning on, not only as a TD but during his time on Laois County Council. As Deputy Aird knows, Laois fire service indicated that a new fire station at Stradbally was the council's number one priority, and a replacement fire station for Rathdowney was the second priority. This is the factual position. We saw a situation where the Stradbally fire station project was progressed and has now been approved to tender for the construction phase, and it will have a closing date for submissions on 20 January 2026.

The reason I say that is it now means Rathdowney has become the number one priority in this regard for Laois County Council and the Laois fire service.

I am pleased to say that Laois County Fire and Rescue Service has now identified a proposed site that it believes is ideally situated with regard to the road network, traffic flow and central location. Here is the rub, though. The fire service capital programme 2026 to 2030 is being finalised and once it is, we will have a better idea of the timeline. Let me be clear, though. We are absolutely committed, as are the Department of housing and Laois County Fire and Rescue Service, to progressing the proposed new Rathdowney station. The next time we are in Laois, perhaps we will visit it and talk about timelines and moving that forward.

And the Tánaiste will be able to make an announcement.