Cllr. Nigel Dineen raised the matter of Castlerea fire station and the commitment the C.E. gave earlier in the year to reopen the fire station and requested a timeline in regard to this.

He asked a number of questions and made a number of comments as follows:

·         Has any refresher training taken place for any of the seven firefighters in Castlerea to date?

·         He was asked to highlight a matter that is a concern of people in Castlerea and surrounding areas that companies do ask the question if there is a fire service available in the area when quoting for insurance and will then hike up the premium or decline to insure the property if there is not a fire service available.

·         He stated the minimum requirement to attend a fire is a crew of five. Last week there was a chimney fire in Castlerea town and Ballaghaderreen fire brigade could not attend as they had only four firefighters available at the time of the call. Ten minutes after the initial call, Ballyhaunis were contacted to attend and they had six firefighters available. When the Ballyhaunis crew arrived to the fire, the Ballaghaderreen tender

had already arrived with only four firefighters which was a breach of protocol and Health and Safety. Eventually the fifth firefighter from Ballaghaderreen arrived to the fire one hour and ten minutes after the call in his own private vehicle. Under Health and Safety Procedures Cllr. Dineen asked the following questions of the Chief Executive and Director of Services

o   Does the firefighter go straight to the fire station first before he/she can attend the fire?

o   Can a firefighter attend a fire using his/her own car?

o   Can a firefighter arrive at a fire without his/her PPE or can he/she put on turnout gear at the fire?

o   Ballaghaderreen fire tender arrived at the fire with a crew of four, what are the procedures in that situation?

He stated that a number of years ago a crew from Castlerea could not attend a call over an elderly man trapped in his property in Castlerea town because they only had a crew of three and had to wait for backup crew to attend the fire before they could leave the station. He asked if the procedures changes since then that the four firefighters came from Castlerea to the fire before the back-up crew arrived from Ballyhaunis and was he correct in stating that the crew from Ballaghaderreen should not have attended the fire first and were procedures carried out properly under health and safety in this regard? He stated that in the end there were eleven firefighters, two engines and two jeeps present at the chimney fire in Castlerea.

He stated that what happened in Castlerea last week was reckless and it’s sad to see this is the fire service the Council is running in the county. Eighteen councillors passed the budget last week while a fire was happening in Castlerea and part of this budget was to provide an adequate fire service for the people of county Roscommon. This is not the service I want for this county where people’s lives are put at risk. Finally, he stated that it is important that the Chief Executive knows what’s happening in the fire service throughout the county and requested that the Director of Services or Chief Executive to answer the questions that he raised.

investigation into what occurred last week in Castlerea and find out if the fire service is serving the needs of our county safely and with proper procedures in place. Secondly there is a review ongoing on Castlerea Fire Station and I am proposing that there is a full review of the whole fire service throughout this county.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Dineen

                SECONDED by Cllr. McDermott

It was AGREED that a full internal investigation takes place into the fire in Castlerea last week to find out if the fire service is serving the needs of the county safely with proper procedures in place.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Dineen

                SECONDED by Cllr. Ward

It was AGREED that there will be a full review of the fire service currently within the County of Roscommon.

The Cathaoirleach asked what is the up to date position with regard to the reopening of the Castlerea Fire Station as the members are aware there is a report to be carried out on the Castlerea Station and its performance and operations etc.

In reply the Chief Executive stated that he closed the station three years ago, not because he wanted to but because he had to. He confirmed that there had been and continues to be an excellent and efficient fire service being provided by the fire Authority. He is well aware of what happens in the Fire Service and the issues.  He welcomed the recent interest in the Fire Station and but confirmed that he would not be rushed into making a decision in relation to the reopening of the Station in Castlerea and he or the Director of Services had nothing further to add.

Cllr. Dineen stated that he expected to receive answers to questions raised in the chamber and as an elected member of Roscommon County Council he has a voice for the Roscommon and Castlerea area however the Chief Executive replied that the matter was raised under Any Other Business and members are aware that answers to such questions must be sought in a more formal way.