Questions raised about Dunleer Fire Station delay amid new €3 million funding

Ardee councillor John Sheridan has "cautiously" welcomed funding for a new Fire Station in Dunleer. 

The funding was announced by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne in which Louth County Council received €3 million to build the new Fire Station. 

Cllr Sheridan welcomed the funding but questioned why the project had been put on hold in April 2025. 

The Fianna Fáil councillor told the April meeting of Louth County Council that €1.6 million had been allocated by the Department in 2020 and said negotiations were taking place in 2023 to determine a site for the station. 

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However, Cllr Sheridan said in April 2025 the Department had told Louth County Council to put the project on hold. 

"In April 2025, the management report said that the Department had told us to put it on hold for two years while they negotiate. Then two weeks ago, €3 million was announced for Dunleer Fire Station so I suppose, I’m very cautiously saying, I of course welcome it, but we had €1.6 million in December 2020 yet we were told this time last year to put it on hold," he said. 

David Jones, Director of Major Capital Projects and Infrastructure Delivery with Louth County Council also welcomed "quite a significant allocation" for fire stations in the county. 

He said the Council had been asked to "stall or put to one side" the planned station for Dunleer, but added that the new allocation "would indicate that we’re back on track".

Mr Jones said Louth County Council will now pick up where they left off. 

As part of the funding for the Fire and Rescue Services in Louth, €6 million was allocated to develop the Dundalk Training Centre as well as €5 million to redevelop Dundalk Fire Station.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.