Free site offered for Mayo town's new fire station

Mayo Co Council has been asked to consider an offer by a philanthropy fund for a free site for the construction of the new Ballyhaunis Fire Station.

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary announced last month that funding of €3 million had been approved for a new purpose-built, state-of-the-art fire station on a greenfield site in Ballyhaunis. It will replace the existing premises at Clare Street.

The matter was raised at last week's meeting of the council when Independent Cllr Patsy O'Brien said he had been asked to highlight a generous offer from the Billy Kedian Trust, which is offering a site for the development just over a kilometre from Ballyhaunis town. The Billy Kedian Heli Heroes Trust describes itself as "a voluntary, non-profit organisation providing emergency helicopter transport for critically ill children across Ireland". It was established to honour the memory of Ballyhaunis native Billy Kedian who died while saving the lives of colleagues during a United Nations mission in Lebanon in 1999.

“This trust has made a field available and has asked can they be afforded a meeting with the council to discuss this," said Cllr O'Brien. "I would say this is a brilliant opportunity for the local authority. A lot of money can be saved on the spend as this site is going to be made available free of charge. It is a great offer and should be investigated. The trust has done great work, so I ask the executive to discuss the offer and for there to be a formal meeting with these people.” 

Cllr Richard Finn said numerous sites have been mooted for the project and the one offered free of charge is within the eligible 3km town boundary limit.

Cllr Damien Ryan welcomed the ringfencing of funding by Minister Calleary for Ballyhaunis Fire Station, saying he too was aware of a number of options for the site, adding: “I don’t intend to get involved in that but just ask that all sites are adjudicated on and looked at.” 

Cllr John Cauflifed also welcomed the offer, saying: “Several sites have been identified but this one is free and I think planners should look at it, given this is a time we need to be prudent about spending.” 

Council management agreed that all options would be considered.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.