New firefighters and €1m worth of new fire trucks for Laois
Laois County Fire & Rescue Service to get more equipment and staff
Laois fire services are getting a big boost with new fire trucks and new firefighters.
Laois County Fire and Rescue Service has been approved to get two new Class B (standard) fire appliance trucks. Including VAT they will cost over €1 million.
"It is expected that these appliances will be ordered early 2024, with a delivery date of late 2024, or early 2025. The total cost of the two new appliances is approximately €900,000 ex VAT," the service has said.
The service is also set to receive three new sets of battery-powered cutting equipment, plus a trailer and ancillary equipment for Laois County Council's Argocat 6x6 wildland firefighting vehicle.
The equipment will be funded by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM).
Meanwhile the new pay agreement for firefighters has attracted much needed new Laois recruits.
"Following on from the WRC Agreement, 10 prospective new fire fighters are in the recruitment process, having been successful at interview, in December 2023. Additional recruitment will be commenced with a view to adhering to the terms of the WRC Agreement," Laois County Council has stated in its monthly report.
Meanwhile one of the county's eight fire crews is a step closer to construction of a new station.
The council say that the contract is about to be signed with an architects team to design the new Stradbally fire station. the plan got Part 8 planning approval and approval in principal for funding by the NDFEM in 2023.