Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for taking this Commencement matter. I know the salient and important case for a new fire station for Crossmolina will be made to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. We are waiting for the green light to allow the new fire station project for Crossmolina to go to tender. It is in the Government's capital programme for 2020 and it is much needed. Mayo County Council is doing its best and secured a site some years ago. It has also secured Part 8 planning permission to build on the site. I understand the county council is engaging with the Department to update the project details, taking into account the requirements of the new building regulations. It is, therefore, doing everything it can.

Delivery and construction of this fire station is the number one priority for Mayo County Council. I have visited the current fire station and it is not fit for purpose. Conditions are deplorable and have to be seen to be believed. The building is wet and cold, its fabric is in poor condition and the facilities are old. The washing facilities were described to me as antediluvian but the fire service is trying to maintain the building as best it can. It needs to know the project will get the green light. I hope we will get some good news about progress today and that we can look forward to tender and construction next year. Efforts were made to rent another premises in the locality but that did not work out.

The nine retained firefighters in Crossmolina fire station do an excellent job dealing with everything from house fires and road traffic accidents to bush and whin fires on bogs. They are busy with those in the summers. Unfortunately, Crossmolina is prone to flooding, which is a regular threat. The town is on the capital programme list for the delivery of flood defences but we are awaiting progress in the planning side of that. There is never a dull moment and the firefighters do a fantastic job. It is high time the firefighters, the staff associated with the fire service and the community of Crossmolina got a proper fire station they can rely on in future. It must be at least ten years since a new fire station was built in Mayo. This project is much needed.