Fianna Fáil TD Eugene Murphy’s mediation efforts in the Castlerea fire station saga have almost concluded, with no successful outcome.
The station has now been closed for almost four months because a number of staff went on sick leave and there isn’t enough firemen to operate it safely.
In mid-March, Roscommon-Galway deputy Murphy offered to intervene, meeting the chief executive of Roscommon County Council, Eugene Cummins, and fire-fighters.
He has now almost finished the talks, but there has been no progress in terms of the reopening of the station.
He is calling Mr Cummins to step in.
Meanwhile, in an email obtained by Shannonside FM, Local Government Minister Simon Coveney claims a ‘breakaway staff representative organisation’ was part of the reason for the closure of the station.
It’s understood this relates to some members of Castlerea fire station becoming members of an unrecognised union, with others remaining in Siptu.
However, Deputy Murphy believes that’s not the root of the problem.
