Laois has highest number of female firefighters, with no facilities for women

A Laois fire station has been called ‘unfit for purpose’ as it lacks appropriate facilities for female firefighters.

Rathdowney fire station has the highest percentage of female firefighters in the county, with three women now working in the crew.

Laois also holds the record for the longest serving female, with Rathdowney Station Officer Shusha Killeen who joined 17 years ago.

In an interview with the Leinster Express/Laois Live in 2023, Ms Killeen explained that the station had a second toilet facility installed after she had joined.

Currently, Rathdowney fire station does not have appropriate changing facilities for female firefighters. This issue was brought to the attention of Laois County Council by Fine Gael Cllr John King.

A Laois Fire Service tender. Photo: Leinster Express

Cllr King asked the Council to consider writing a letter immediately to Minister for Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, requesting funding for a new fire station in Rathdowney.

“Rathdowney fire station is the only station in Laois that has three female members, I was in the fire service for 15 years myself,” Cllr King explained.

“When I was in the fire station, it was hardly fit for men, how could it be fit for ladies? It is certainly not fit for purpose,” he said.

“The fire station is quite small and quite dated, but we have a new site available. I know that Stradbally is on the agenda, but I have been asked by the existing crew to acquire facilities for the ladies to change in Rathdowney.  They are not adequate and they are substandard,” Cllr King argued.

“We have a site at hand, I am asking the Council to write a letter to Minister O’Brien to secure funding, on behalf of the six councillors here.  When this General Election  is over, I will be contacting whoever is in charge about this issue too. 

“We are lucky enough to have nine, and all of the crews are coming up. It’s nice to see the ladies joining too,” Cllr King finished.

The motion was fully supported by fellow Fine Gael Cllr Conor Bergin.

Above: Rathdowney Fire Brigade in 2023.

I fully support this motion on behalf of Cllr King,” Cllr Bergin said.

"This is a priority- there is a priority to upgrade Stradbally fire station, but Rathdowney should absolutely be next. As Cllr King said, there is a site available there,” he said.

Independent Cllr Ollie Clooney also supported Cllr King’s motion.

“On the staffing issues, there is great work being done with the ‘one week on, one week off’. But we now have to look at the facilities,” Cllr Cloony said.

“ The facilities are inadequate for both males and females. The service that they provide is brilliant, during the week they kept a little baby in Durrow alive until the ambulance arrived,” he said.

“ It is a brilliant service to have locally, in some cases where an ambulance does not come, time is of the essence.  They are there to help, and they provide a tremendous service. We need to back them up with whatever they need,” Cllr Clooney finished.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Paddy Bracken also gave his support to the motion tabled by Cllr King.

“In the case of emergencies, these crews are the first responders,” he said.

“ It is very important that we have the facilities in each town, be it Rathdowney or Stradbally. I fully support this motion,” Cllr Bracken said.

Mr. Donal Brennan, Director of Services for Laois County Council, replied that a letter will issue to Minister Darragh O’ Brien in this regard.