Concern over fire safety at proposed gas terminal

FIRE safety could be a concern for a local authority at a proposed €500 million gas terminal at Tarbert on the Shannon Estuary.

The proposed facility will require extra fire service cover, it has been claimed.

However, Kerry County Council has revealed that it does not have the money to provide an additional fire station in the Tarbert/ Ballylongford area, at a likely cost of €750,000.

Local councillor Liam Purtill, who called for the extra service, was told by senior officials the area was already adequately served by units in Listowel, Tralee and Ballybunion.

“Kerry County Council, in the current economic climate, does not have access to that level of funding,” said a council spokesman.

In relation to the proposed Shannon LNG terminal, the council also said the plant would have its own fire-fighting service and suitably trained crew on site at all times.

Concerns have also been raised about the loss of a Castlegregory-based fire service which covered the northern side of the Dingle Peninsula.

The cost of a retained service in Castlegregory would be similar to that for a service in Tarbert /Ballylongford, the council said.

Earlier this year, the voluntary fire service in Castlegregory ceased, due mainly to health and safety concerns by the council.

Deputy Brendan Griffin, seeking the restoration of the brigade at the seaside village, said it serviced a scattered rural area, parts of which were more than 40km from Tralee.

However, the council says that the low level of activity in the Castlegregory, Maharees, Cloghane and Brandon areas would not justify a retained fire service and the area was adequately covered by the county fire service.

Mr Griffin said he had particular concerns regarding the time it would take for fire brigades from others areas to reach Cloghane and Brandon.

It is a popular tourist area with several beaches, ten caravan parks and numerous holiday homes.

Local campaigners have warned lives could be at risk due to the standing down of the nine-man fire crew in Castlegregory.

The service was set up in 1983 after a serious public house fire in the area and has since responded to calls dealing with house fires, gorse fires, mobile home fires, flooding, medical assistance and mountain rescues.