Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

The fire brigade service in Kenmare is a professional service provided by very committed firemen deserving of the best equipment and facilities. The fire brigade station location has varied through the years. In the 1940s and 1950s it was a shed in the corner of the butter market in Kenmare with a fire pump pulled by a car. It was operated by men such as Dan Dooley, Jerry Shea, Sonny Palmer, John Downing the Square and Mickey Stephens. Eventually it was upgraded to Market Street where a small fire tender was serviced by volunteer firemen within the town. In 1977 it was moved to the library, where a Firefly Ford van was operated by Pete Hanley, Tony Murphy, John Digger, Flor Batt, Tom O'Connor, John and Michael Pio, John Arthur, Bertie McSwiney, Billy Lynch and his brother Mickey Lynch, Derry Downing and John Crowley among many others who served Kenmare and the people around it with distinction. A site was subsequently located that was owned by the council and which was to be allocated for a new fire station in 1997. The cost would be €300,000.

However, the project never came to fruition.

The station was relocated from its position adjacent to the library to its current location in 2004. I understand the rental cost of the property is in the region of €17,000, but I am open to correction in that regard. The current team of firefighters - Mr. Billy Bevan, Mr. Joe Crowley, Mr. Noel Hanley, Mr. Dan Keane, Mr. Paul Cassidy, Mr. Michael Connolly, Mr Michael Donovan and Mr. John Sweeney - provide cover for the entire Kenmare area. There is a site next to the station which is controlled by the council and which has, I understand, been designated as the location of the new fire station. Planning permission has been granted and the project was supposed to be put out to tender. The funding required for the project which has not been included in the capital programme for a number of years is estimated at €1.2 million. Perhaps the Minister might enlighten the House on when the very professional fire service in Kenmare will obtain access to new facilities and a permanent home.