The construction of a new fire station has been announced for Cork City Fire Service – with €13 million of funding secured.
Cork City Council is at an “advance stage” in identifying a site for the new station west of the city centre, servicing Ballincollig, Ballinora, Waterfall, Bishopstown, Ovens, and surrounding areas. Elsewhere, €3.2 million has been announced for a new station in Dunmanway and €3 million for Mitchelstown, with €250,000 earmarked for a revamp of an the existing station in Crosshaven.
Plans for a new fire station were launched after a strategic review of the Cork City Fire Brigade, which was carried out after the Cork city boundary extension in 2019. That extension saw the Cork city zone swell to nearly five times its previous size, taking in areas including Douglas, Blarney and Ballincollig – previously the domain of Cork County Council.
Senator Garret Kelleher, Cork North Central, welcomed confirmation of the project from the Dept. of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. Senator Kelleher said: “I’m delighted to have received confirmation from the Dept. of Housing, Local Government & Heritage of the allocation of €13 million under the Fire Services Capital Programme for the construction of a new fire station for Cork City West.
“I look forward to continuing to work closely with Council management, the Department and my fellow elected representatives through the design, planning and construction stages to ensure that the new station is delivered in a timely a manner to meet the needs of our fast-growing community.
“I wish to thank my colleague Minister John Cummins TD for his support in delivering the €13 million allocation. This is a hugely important capital investment for our area and is fantastic news for Ballincollig, Ballinora/Waterfall, Bishopstown, Ovens and the surrounding areas, which will make our community a safer place for us all.”
The announcement of a new Cork city fire station follows the opening in January of a new station in Clonakilty. That €2.25m facility has replaced an old HQ that had served as the base for local fire crews for 80 years.