Claire Kerrane
Question:134. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Castlerea fire station, County Roscommon, was closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44090/20]
View answerWednesday, 16 December 2020
Questions (134)
Written answers
The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through general policy-setting and preparing legislation, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
Roscommon County Council provides its fire services from fire stations at Roscommon town, Elphin, Boyle, Ballaghdereen and Strokestown. Significant areas of the county are also served from fire stations located in adjacent counties including Athlone, Ballinasloe, Ballyhaunis, Carrick-on-Shannon and Lanesboro. It also runs both statutory and community fire safety services.
My Department was informed by Roscommon County Council in February 2017 that, due to a particular local circumstance, Castlerea fire brigade was being stood down. It is my understanding that this situation arose because of internal staffing issues and it was judged by Roscommon County Council that it was unsafe to mobilise this fire brigade to emergency incidents. I was assured that, during this period, an efficient and appropriate fire cover for Castlerea fire station ground was provided from adjacent fire stations and that the elected members of Roscommon County Council were briefed on the on-going situation.
Fire cover has continued to be provided from the adjacent fire stations and my Department has been assured that fire cover in the area has been and continues to be managed and delivered in an efficient and safe manner by adjacent fire brigades. Roscommon Fire and Rescue Service is equipped to deal appropriately with the level of fire risk in the community and, while Castlerea Fire Brigade was stood down three years ago, the fire service to residents, business owners, institutions and schools has continued to be delivered in a safe and appropriate manner.
As you are aware, under the Local Government Act 2001, arrangements in relation to staffing in each local authority are the responsibility of the relevant Chief Executive of that Authority. In this regard, as the employers, Roscommon County Council pursued grievance, disciplinary and mediation processes to try resolve the issues within Castlerea fire station over the last number of years. As these efforts have not been successful, I understand that a decision has now been made by Roscommon County Council not to re-open Castlerea Fire Station. This is an operational decision taken appropriately at local authority level.
I remain re-assured that fire safety in the area has been and continues to be managed and delivered in an efficient and safe manner from adjacent fire brigades by Roscommon Fire Service.