Setback for construction of new €3 million fire station in Laois
Plans for Rathdowney Fire Station have been in the works for over 20 years
It has been revealed that the construction of a long-awaited new fire station in Laois experienced a setback with contractors.
In April, the National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management approved plans for Laois County Council to proceed with a detailed design and costings for a new two-bay fire station in Rathdowney.
Laois County Council purchased a site for the new fire station in 2002 and Part VIII of the proposals for the development were approved in 2010. However, the project has remained at a standstill until this year.
The current station does not have space for indoor drills or even female toilets or showers to cater for the three women in the fire crew.
With the approval granted for the design and costings to go ahead, Laois County Council recently published a tender for an architect-led design team to provide consultancy services for the new station which will be located in Newtownperry and extend from Pound Street to the Johnstown Road.
The contract is for 5 years, with construction envisaged to commence in the first or second quarter of 2027. Funding of €3 million was announced for the project.
Cllr John King sought an update on the tender process at the meeting of Laois County Council on Monday, July 27.
Director of Services at Laois County Council, Simon Walton, said that the tender process had commenced but it “collapsed” due to some internal issues.
The process will recommence shortly and a design team will hopefully be appointed by September.
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