Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was first contacted by local retained firefighters concerned about the continued closure of Castlerea fire station long before I was ever elected to this House. The retained firefighters did not see their role as just a job. They served their community with pride and that pride can be seen in speaking to them. I saw it the first time I met them.

Castlerea fire station was closed in 2007. The only reason given for the closure at the time was staffing issues. A statement from Roscommon County Council in January 2019 stated that the fire station remained closed due to operational reasons.

In April last year, the chief executive of Roscommon County Council told councillors that he was fully committed to the reopening of Castlerea fire station and that it would reopen at some time in that year. Just this week, after waiting months and months for the publication of a report on fire services in County Roscommon, I sat in the council chamber and it was as if the staffing difficulties the chief executive had consistently referred to for three and half years had never existed. Instead, the fire station in Castlerea was being closed because a new report written by the chief fire officer in Roscommon recommended it. This report does not consider the make-up of the town of Castlerea, that it is the second largest town in County Roscommon and the fact that it is home to a number of large factories, large schools, forestry, boglands, nursing homes and a prison. There has been no consultation with the key stakeholders. I know this because I have engaged with many of them myself.

This is a very basic service. The people of Castlerea pay their taxes, including property tax. I ask that the Minister intervene and review this decision urgently.

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