Summit On Donegal Fire Cover Held

Concerns voiced last November over proposals to combine two Co Donegal fire stations as one centralised unit have this week been taken to Dublin.

Ballyshannon and Bundoran councillors and local fire personnel have been increasingly concerned at moves to amalgamate both towns' fire services to one combined unit at Finner.

Last autumn, it was reported that the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government was intending to make such a move.

Donegal councillors called for a meeting with officials in a bid to resolve the uncertainty hanging over the future of Ballyshannon and Bundoran's fire stations.

The councillors are concerned that relocating both services to a central unit could dramatically reduce emergency call-out times and as a result, put lives in jeopardy.

However, now that the talks aimed at avoiding the amalgamation of both Ballyshannon and Bundoran fire services have been held in Dublin, things are looking better.

The meeting on Wednesday has been described as "positive".

A cross-party delegation from both Ballyshannon and Bundoran Town Councils met with Minister of State for Housing and Local Services, Michael Finneran at Leinster House yesterday afternoon.

Chairman of Ballyshannon Town Council Pat O'Malley said he was satisfied with yesterday's meeting and he feels Minister Finneran took councillors' views on board.

Cllr O'Malley told the local radio station, Ocean FM that it was an important factor that both town councils presented a united front to the Minister.

The issue was initially raised at a meeting last November that was also attended by the county's Acting Chief Fire Officer, Bobby McMenamin.

See: Donegal Council To Shed Staff

(BMcC/JM)