New Virginia fire station finally moves to construction stage

The new Virginia Fire Station is to proceed to construction stage. Members of the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District expressed their satisfaction with the progress of the project at their monthly meeting on Monday afternoon after the chamber formally approved the Part 8 planning phase to construct a new two-bay fire station.

Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations governs planning projects undertaken by the local authority after public consultation.
The development is for the station, a drill tower, yard, wall and all ancillary site developments at Rahardrum, Virginia.
In welcoming the announcement, local councillor Paddy O'Reilly said that he was delighted to see the programme entering the construction phase. He said that fire services had been working in the existing fire station for 20 years and it has ceased to be useful.
Cllr Shane P O'Reilly said: 'No longer should we expect professionals to work in Virginia station.
The toilets had to be taken out to accommodate a fire tender. We have been inconveniencing people who risk their lives for the public good and asking them to work in third world conditions. How can the OPW have allowed this to go on for so long?'
Chairman Philip Brady also welcomed the development.
Director of Services Eoin Doyle said that the provision of the new facility was very necessary as the firefighters do 'exceptional work'.