£14m (€17.92m) boost to North fire service revamp plan

An additional £14m (€17.92m) is to be spent replacing 26 fire stations across the North, it was announced today.

The cash boost takes the planned spend on a major modernisation programme of the region’s Fire and Rescue Service to £168m (€215.05m) over the next 10 years.

More than 100 appliances will also be either updated or replaced as part of the investment.

Health minister Michael McGimpsey had originally allocated £12m (€15.36m) to the capital scheme over the next three years, but today he announced he would be more than doubling that figure.

“A world-class health service needs a modern and responsive emergency service,” said the minister.

“The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) does a tremendous job in responding to a wide range of emergency incidents from fires, road traffic collisions and other specialist rescue calls.

“It is essential that we provide both frontline staff and management with the necessary infrastructure to enable them to continue to deliver a quality, efficient and effective service to everyone in Northern Ireland.

“I therefore plan to invest a further £14m (€17.92m) over the next three years which is in addition to the original £12m (€15.35m) already allocated as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

“Over the next 10 years I plan to invest some £168m (€215.05m). This funding is as a result of the review of capital priorities which I commissioned to help inform me on the longer term investment required in the health and social care and public safety infrastructure.”

Around £30m (€38.4m) of the funding will be allocated to the planned training college for police, fire and prison services proposed for Cookstown.

The NIFRS intends to replace 26 stations, including the purchase of 22 new sites and refurbish a further 10.

Making the announcement at an emergency response training exercise in Belfast, Mr McGimpsey said: “There will be major investment in fire appliances, with 11 frontline appliances to be replaced each year.

“Also, to assist the firefighters with critical risk information at incidents, a Mobile Data System with satellite navigation will be provided which will include computer terminals and screens in their vehicles.

“This will ensure that firefighters are able to carry out their life-saving work in vehicles which are roadworthy, reliable and modern.

“The Fire and Rescue Service has also identified the need to modernise or replace a number of their stations. Over the next three years, as well as the completion of a replacement fire station in Armagh City, new stations will be built in Omagh, Fintona, Cushendall and Newtownstewart.

“We will be looking to purchase suitable sites in other high priority locations across Northern Ireland.”