A Castlerea councillor is calling on Roscommon County Council to provide a full fire service in the town.
Paschal Fitzmaurice raised the issue at a meeting of the local authority this afternoon.
The closure of the west Roscommon fire station over five years ago was branded as a scandal and disgrace by councillors at this month’s meeting of the local authority.
Council officials informed elected representatives that a review carried out in mid 2020 found the cover service being provided by Ballaghadereen, Elphin, Roscommon and Ballyhaunis crews is meeting national standards under the 1981 fire service act.
The Castlerea area is placed in the risk category of E1 - which means fire crews arrive within 30 minutes of being called.
He believes there's a need now, more than ever, for a full service due to the growing population and business community. Councillor Fitzmaurice said there were no excuses. He called on the council to do the right and decent thing and re-open the Castlerea station
Fellow councillors lended their support. Councillor Nigel Dinesen claimed the people of Castlerea had been let down by Roscommon county council
Fianna Fáil's Orla Leydon said fires are unpredictable and unforgiving, past statistics do nothing.
However council officials stated the statistics were based on facts and the local authority are meeting their obligations.
The chief executive Eugene Cummins concluded the discussion by saying he never wanted to close the station.
