Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is very welcome. I thank him for taking time out of his schedule to be here. I appreciate it. This morning, I will raise the issue of the urgent need for a new fire station in Ballybay. Ballybay fire station provides cover not just to the town itself, but to the wider mid-Monaghan area. Back in 1977, a report was commissioned which determined that the fire station fell short of the minimum requirements of a modern fire station. That was in 1977 - many years ago. The current station, which is a single-storey structure, is located in the centre of Ballybay and has no parking facilities attached.

I pay tribute to the nine dedicated crew members attached to the fire station for their loyal and dedicated service, both in the past and at present. I pay tribute to all who have been attached to the station down through the years. They have given excellent service not just to the people of Ballybay, but to the people of the wider hinterland of mid-Monaghan.

The current crew and the people of Ballybay and the mid-Monaghan area deserve a new fire station. I hope the Minister of State will have positive news for me in that regard this morning. I pay tribute to local councillor, Séamus Coyle, who has worked tirelessly on this issue. Only last week, he put a motion before Monaghan County Council which highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue. I pay tribute to all members of Monaghan County Council and, indeed, Ballybay town commissioners down through the years who have worked and pushed tirelessly to get a new facility for the town. There is no doubt but that there is an urgent need for a new facility there. I would like the Minister of State to push the matter with his Cabinet colleagues in order to ensure that this facility is provided to the crew that currently works there and the people of Ballybay and the wider Monaghan area.