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

Does it not seem strange to the Minister that he has cited staffing issues in his response when the fire station was not permanently because of staffing issues? It was permanently closed because of this new report. The decision was solely based on that. There is a statutory obligation on local authorities to provide a fire service, as the Minister has said. That obligation is not being met.

I mentioned the prison. There are 12 prisons in the State. Castlerea Prison is one of the largest, with capacity for 340 prisoners and 150 staff. Castlerea Prison will be the prison that is furthest away from a fire station in the entire State. It will be 22 km from the nearest station. Portlaoise Prison is 110 m from the nearest fire station. The Midlands Prison is 290 m away. Arbour Hill Prison is 4 km, Cork Prison, 3 km and Limerick Prison, 220 m, respectively, from the nearest fire station.

I have been in contact with the council, the chief fire officer and the Prison Officers Association, which cannot get a meeting with the council. In fact, the last time the association, which represents the workers in that prison, looked for a meeting with the chief fire officer, it was directed to the HR department. This is not good enough. We need this fire station reopened. It is a basic service but it can be the difference between life and death. I again ask the Minister to look into the matter.

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