Minister Moran welcomes €1.1m high-capacity pump for Westmeath
Athlone Fire Station is to become home to a new €1.1m high-capacity specialist emergency response appliance pump.
The news comes today (Monday) as Minister of State Kevin 'Boxer' Moran TD has welcomed the high-capacity pump (HCP) appliance allocated to Westmeath Fire Service as part of a major national investment in Ireland’s emergency response capability.
The first five HCP appliances under the Department’s National High-Capacity Pump Programme have arrived in Ireland for final fit-out ahead of deployment.
As part of Phase 1 of the programme, each of the five designated centres, including Westmeath, has been allocated one HCP appliance.
Once final works, crew training and commissioning are completed, the Westmeath appliance will be operated by Westmeath Fire Service and based at Athlone Fire Station.
Each appliance represents an investment of approximately €1.1 million, with the five Phase 1 appliances located in Cork city, Dublin, Galway, Monaghan and Westmeath.
The new appliances are designed to enhance the ability of fire and rescue services to respond to major flooding events, large fires and other complex emergencies. They will also form part of a nationally coordinated emergency response capability, allowing specialist resources to be deployed where they are most needed.
Welcoming the investment, Minister Moran said: “I am delighted to see this significant investment coming to Westmeath, with a new appliance being allocated to Westmeath Fire Service and based at Athlone Fire Station.
This is an investment of approximately €1.1 million in the emergency response capability of our county, while at the same time providing an important resource within the national emergency response network.”
He said that the appliances have been 'specifically designed to strengthen ability to deal with major flooding events, large fires and other complex emergencies'.
“As we face increasingly challenging weather events, it is vital that our fire and rescue services have access to modern, specialist equipment and the training required to use it effectively. The fact that Westmeath is one of the five Phase 1 locations demonstrates the importance of ensuring that specialist emergency response resources are strategically located around the country. Having this appliance based at Athlone Fire Station will strengthen local capability and allow it to support communities beyond Westmeath when required as part of a nationally coordinated response,” Minister Moran said.
“I want to commend the work of our fire and rescue personnel who respond to emergencies in difficult and often dangerous circumstances. Providing them with the best possible equipment is a key part of ensuring the safety and resilience of our communities. The appliance is now undergoing final fit-out, with crew training and commissioning to follow. I look forward to seeing it fully operational in Athlone in the coming weeks,” he added.
The National High-Capacity Pump Programme forms part of the Department’s wider investment in specialised emergency response capabilities, modern equipment, training and preparedness.
The five Phase 1 appliances will become fully operational following completion of final fit-out, crew training and commissioning activities.