Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2026
562. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to providing funding for an updated fire station in Glencolmcille, County Donegal; the timeframe for when it will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27957/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 & 2003.
My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In April 2026, I announced the Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2026-2030, with a funding allocation of €328.5m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
• Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
• established Health and Safety needs;
• state of development of the project;
• value for money offered by the proposal; and
• the totality of requests from all authorities.
Donegal Fire service has long pursued a strategic objective to amalgamate Ballyshannon and Bundoran fire stations. Donegal County Council has indicated an amalgamation of Ballyshannon/Bundoran fire stations at Finner, a proposed new three bay fire station with additional appliance storage capacity, to be its top priority infrastructural project for capital funding in the period 2026-2030. My Department recently conveyed approval in principle for Donegal County Council to progress the proposed new fire station at a Council owned site in Finner.
My Department will work closely with Donegal County Council to progress their identified priority infrastructural projects, within the context of the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide for capital funding.
