Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Further to a visit to the former temporary headquarters of Civil Defence in Mullingar, County Westmeath, I tabled a Topical Issue and had a debate with the Minister of State because of the conditions in which the organisation was accommodated. My party colleague on Westmeath County Council, Councillor Andrew Duncan, tabled a motion at a recent meeting to encourage the local authority to put a plan together for the location of a permanent facility for Westmeath Civil Defence. Unfortunately, the organisation has been treated badly by the State because it was put in a disgraceful location and volunteers were challenged every day by the surroundings in which they had to work. I appeal to the Minster of State to ensure his Department liaises strongly with the county council because a number of options are on the table and a solution is needed for volunteers who are the first responders in many incidents.

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