William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)

Rathdowney fire station has been waiting for more than two decades for a replacement. A site was acquired in 2003, Part 8 approval is complete and Laois County Council has prioritised Rathdowney for the 2026 to 2030 fire service capital programme. The current station is outdated, overcrowded and lacks proper facilities for female staff, despite having the largest number of female fire fighters in the county. Rathdowney crews continue to provide an excellent service to a wide area of homes, schools, farms and businesses. A new station is essential to provide proper training conditions, adequate facilities and a stronger response capacity. Will the Tánaiste commit to prioritising and funding the construction of the new Rathdowney fire station? Will he provide a clear timeline for when its long overdue funding will be released? The Tánaiste mentioned that today is our first anniversary of being elected. Would it not be lovely for him to stand up in his response to say "Yes" to me and that he has a clear timeframe for doing something?

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