I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this matter and I am glad the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Molloy, is here.
I have raised this issue over many years by way of parliamentary questions and Adjournment Debates in an effort to underline its importance. The provision of a new fire station at Dowra in north-west Cavan has been of considerable concern for years. In January 1993 the then Minister for the Environment approved the provision of a new fire station. Cavan County Council was requested to prepare and submit working drawings, plans and a bill of quantities. In March 1994 Cavan County Council submitted the contract documents to the Department of the Environment. It is obvious that very little progress has been made in the meantime as those contract documents have not been approved, nor has the council been given permission to invite tenders for this much needed project. That has been the information conveyed to me for some time past, again outlined by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government in a recent letter to me.
Dowra is located in north-west Cavan and, as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle knows well, is an area of beautiful but difficult terrain dominated by the Cuilcagh mountain range. The nearest fire station in County Cavan is located at Ballyconnell, 22 miles away, the nearest in adjoining counties being at Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, almost 20 miles away and Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, 11 miles away. In difficult weather conditions it would take a fire tender well in excess of one hour to travel from Ballyconnell to Dowra crossing the Cuilcagh Mountains.
A huge afforestation programme has been taking place in that part of north-west Cavan over many years with the constant attendant threat of a major outbreak of fire adjacent to a populated area. In 1995 there was a serious fire in a forest near the village of Dowra demonstrating to the local community in no uncertain terms the absolute need for an adequate and proper fire station and appropriate appliances in their village. Large tracts of forestry have also been planted very close to isolated rural homes. There is an aging population in this area. Unfortunately, fires have taken lives and property all too often, particularly in the case of elderly people living on their own.
The national primary route, the N16, an important north-west route, runs through part of this area. Since the end of August 1994 there has been a remarkable and welcome increase in traffic on that route. In the event of accidents or other emergencies adequate local fire services should be available to deal with them. The existing fire station at Dowra, which is totally inadequate and antiquated, covers a large catchment area, comprising the Dowra, Glangevlin and Blacklion areas. Situated near Blacklion is Loughan House with a large number of inmates. Such institutions may need to avail of those emergency services from time to time. Adequate emergency services should be available in all regions. I believe that the factors I have outlined, which give a profile of the area, demonstrate clearly that the case for a new fire station at Dowra is most pressing and this new facility should be provided with the utmost speed.
At a Cavan County Council meeting last September, Mr. Eddie Feeley, the councillor for that area, specifically raised this issue with Minister Dempsey. He appealed to the Minister to advance this project and to have construction of the new fire station commenced in 1998. He raised this issue again at yesterday's meeting of Cavan County Council and I wholeheartedly support his efforts.
A new fire station would be a tremendous asset to an area where there has been very little State investment to date. I appeal to the Minister of State to give my renewed representations favourable and urgent consideration. I hope that the necessary tendering process can be set in motion immediately and that this facility can be provided without further delay.
