Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Feb 1997

Vol. 150 No. 4

Adjournment Matters. - Buncrana (Donegal) Fire Station.

Mr. Maloney

I wish the Minister every peace and happiness on his retirement. It is a sad day for the Labour Party that he has taken this step but I understand his reasons.

I thank the Minister for taking this question which calls for a new fire station for Buncrana. The Department of the Environment inspected the fire station in Buncrana in 1988 and the report of the inspector stated that it was a disgrace. Nine years later nothing has been done to improve the situation.

I commend the Minister for the Environment, Deputy Howlin, on funding a new fire station in Milford, County Donegal, in his allocations for 1996. Money is being provided for this station in this year's Estimates. However, the situation in Buncrana is completely inadequate.

The existing fire station is too small for the 13 personnel who work there. There is only one bay for a fire tender, the officers have to share one toilet, one wash basin and one shower. A number of years ago Donegal County Council had to provide a temporary shed for a second tender.

On a recent inspection of the fire station, I noticed that the floor is falling in, the windows are rotting and there is damp everywhere. There are no canteen facilities for the staff and no facilities for cleaning the equipment — the personnel were washing the fire engine at the side of the street. This is not good enough.

Buncrana has two Fruit of the Loom factories at Ballymacarry and Shore Road and the Clubman Omega shirt factory and these two industries employ thousands of workers. One shudders to think what might happen if there was a major emergency with the present equipment and facilities.

Buncrana fire station is ill-equipped to deal with a major emergency. Luckily, it has been able to call on the fire service in Derry and I thank them for the help they have provided during major fires all over Donegal.

The situation is serious for the area and the personnel employed at the station. Will the Minister give priority to Buncrana fire station in the allocation of money this year?

Donegal has three priorities in relation to the fire service. First, Milford fire station which has now been allocated funding; second, the Buncrana station and I compliment those who are working there under very poor conditions and third, the regional headquarters for the fire service proposed for Letterkenny.

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

I thank the Senator for his kind personal remarks.

The need for a new fire station in Buncrana is accepted by the Department of the Environment. Approval in principle was issued to Donegal County Council some years ago for a new station in the town. The next stage in the provision of new fire stations requires the local authority to prepare and submit detailed drawings and cost plans to the Department. Further progress cannot be made until these details are submitted by Donegal County Council. It is only when proposals have progressed to tender stage that the question of a specific allocation of funds arises. Since the Buncrana project has not yet reached this stage, the question of funding does not yet arise.

Since the early 1980s, successive Governments have shown a strong commitment to capital investment in the fire service. Capital investment in the period 1981-97, inclusive, amounted to over £86 million and this has resulted in major improvements, such as new and improved fire stations, training facilities and modern mobilisation and communications systems. Donegal County Council has benefited from this significant investment, receiving almost £2 million for capital investment over that period.

I am pleased that this Government has been able to maintain capital allocations for the fire service's capital programme at a high level. Over £14 million will be spent in the period 1995-97 compared with a total of £12 million in the period 1992-94.

I can assure Senator Maloney that the Department and the Minister are fully aware of the current needs in Donegal. In fact, the county council's tender recommendation for the construction of a new fire station in Milford has recently been approved and work should commence on this project shortly. The Senator may be assured that when detailed plans are submitted by the local authority for the Buncrana station they will be carefully examined and a decision will be made as quickly as possible.