McHugh’s Miscellany - Fire stations conundrum is really an easy fix!  

The amalgamation of anything should always be taken with a grain of salt, but when a proposed scenario that would see the citizens of one Donegal town under an underlying threat, concern or worry, must surely be the cause of intense public scrutiny and debate. 

Which brings me to the long running saga about the desperately urgent need for a new fire station in both Bundoran and Ballyshannon. 

I clearly recall a local councillor telling me that between the money spent with reports and consultants could have built the two new stations in the interim. 

And as far back as the old Bundoran Town Council days, a decade ago, the station was dubbed by its own councillors as “vintage”.

I don't know who is trying to penny pinch here, or where the buck stops, but when it comes to people's lives, the prevailing thought is that this should not come down to a ‘Judgement of Solomon’ scenario. 

No Minister, individual or for that matter report should be able to override the principles of equality, safety and justice, never mind democracy when it comes to such important matters. 

Without fail, I recall the likes of the late Jimmy Delaney and now retired local Station Officer PJ Clancy calling to the door with two tickets for the annual Bundoran fire brigade dance to my parents. 

People in the resort knew just how important that fire service was, particularly having witnessed two major fires there in their lifetimes, one of which was sadly responsible for multiple fatalities, in 1980.

In Ballyshannon, I see that the new ‘community hospital’ on the grounds of the old Sheil Hospital is only a matter of weeks before its official opening.

Ironically, the multi million euro investment is only yards from the current fire station in Ballyshannon, which like its neighbouring station in Bundoran, should really be operating as a museum, Both were declared unfit for purpose years ago!

And I do not know of a single person in either town, who would agree that one town should be given priority, or as an amalgamation on the Finner side of Bundoran, which has curried favour in some quarters, for some considerable time.  

Back in 2020, it was revealed that Donegal would not get any new fire stations under a new Fire Service Capital Programme for the period 2021 - 2025.

And as far back as the early 2000s Donegal County Council had a 15 station Fire Station Replacement Programme, with 12 new Fire Stations being constructed in the interim with Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Glencolmcille still on that list!.

Councillors who represent the Donegal Municipal District have agreed that both towns need a new fire station and not an amalgamation, that will have the safety of one population or the other, at the disadvantage of another.    

If a new station were to be located close to Bundoran, under the rules of availability, that would rule out most, if not all of the current Ballyshannon fire officers, as would also happen in the case in the opposite decision.  

Indeed, an amalgamated station, would have fewer fire officers than currently exists in the two separate stations, from what I have been told! 

If the people who pay their taxes don't start making themselves heard loud and clear, this unacceptable delay too will pass the people of south Donegal by, until their remonstrations are too late and the decision has been literally taken out of their hands, as they have already been firmly tied.  

As for Glencolmcille, their wait and patience has been equally ridiculous . . . .