Minister of State and Clare T.D. Tony Killeen has announced that funding has been allocated to Clare County Council enabling it to commence work on a new training centre for fire and rescue staff in Ennis.The Clare County Fire and Rescue Service facility, which received planning permission earlier this year, is among four services throughout Ireland to benefit from a EUR2 million allocation from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The local fire service will also receive a new Class B fire Appliance adding to existing fleet of 30 vehicles.
Commenting on the funding announcement, Minister of State Killeen said: “In my previous role as Minister of State, with special responsibility for the fire service, I pushed hard to secure funding for the local fire and rescue service in Clare. Therefore, I am delighted that the Department has approved funding for the development of the fire-training centre in Ennis. In addition, approval has been given for the allocation of one new fire appliance for the fire service in Clare County Council.”
“The fire fighting capability of the local service will be greatly enhanced through the provision of this new centre. Once complete the stand-alone training unit will allow the Service to provide modern training facilities. It will complement existing training facilities at Ennis Fire Station and will also be available for use by other local authority fire services. Continued Government investment in the fire service is vital to ensure that communities have the necessary assurances of modern up to date facilities, which can also provide a safer place to work for our fire-fighters”, concluded Minister Killeen.
Adrian Kelly, Chief Fire Officer noted that the new training centre would further enhance overall training facilities for Clare County Fire and Rescue Service. “Presently, fire and rescue staff are among the most highly trained in the country and this facility, once completed, will raise training levels staff even further. We will shortly be going out to tender for this project and look forward to its completion by summer 2010”, added Mr. Kelly.
The Department’s Fire Services Capital Programme supports fire authorities in the development and maintenance of a quality fire-fighting and rescue service. This multi-annual programme is designed to develop infrastructural support to fire authorities in putting modern and efficient fire services response capacity in place throughout the country.
