(Wexford): I am grateful for the opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the need for a new fire station in Enniscorthy town. The old fire station occupied 27 years ago on a temporary basis by the fire personnel at that time is lacking in basic facilities. It is an old shed type building in deplorable condition. There is only one shower, one toilet, one heater and no eating facilities or diesel fumes extractors. There are 12 firemen working from it. The yard is in bad condition and is covered with muck and grass in wintertime. The roof leaks and has been patched up on numerous occasions over the years by Wexford County Council.
The firemen have been fighting for a new facility for the best part of 20 years. Some of them told me recently that despite repeated requests to different Governments they have not been successful. Last year when I was in the Department of the Environment a proposal for a fire station went to tender and we expected work on the new fire station would commence in March or April this year. Will the Minister explain why there has been such a lack of action since last December?
It is unfair that firemen who have given a tremendous service to the Enniscorthy area are asked to continue to work in such archaic conditions. It is only right that they should have modern facilities. They have modern fire tenders but because of lack of space are unable to park them side by side. If we can provide new fire tenders, we should be in a position to provide a modern fire station.
A few years ago the urban council secured a site in Enniscorthy. A new garda station was built which the Minister for Justice opened earlier this year. A new library was also built on the site. The third section of the site has been lying idle for the last few years. It has become dirty and overgrown. Will the Minister for Justice, in the absence of the Minister for the Environment, give a commitment that work on this fire station will commence as quickly as possible? The Enniscorthy area needs it, as do the firemen who have given such loyal service over the years.
The Minister is well aware of the need to have this fire station built as quickly as possible. Will she give a strong commitment that within the next three to four weeks building will commence. I understand, and I am open to correction, that the tenders have been accepted. It may be that the builder has been appointed and work is due to commence shortly. I ask, in the interests of the firemen and the people of Enniscorthy, that this work commence as quickly as possible.