Significant investment secured for local fire services
Minister Smyth hails 'landmark' day for investment under new Fire Services Capital Programme for 2026-2030.
More than €2 million is set to be pumped into refurbishing and upgrading facilities at three local fire stations.
The funding is being delivered as part of a record €328.5 million national investment in fire services nationally over the next five years has been announced, marking what the Government says is the most extensive redevelopment programme for fire stations in the history of the State.
The Fire Services Capital Programme for 2026-2030, unveiled today by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD, will fund upgrades to infrastructure, equipment, training and communications across the country. The initiative has been developed by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.
An allocation of €1 million has been secured for refurbishment works at Kingscourt Fire Station in Cavan, while Carrickmacross Fire Station in Monaghan will receive €850,000 for upgrades.
In addition, the fire training facility in Monaghan Town is to undergo improvements to its Compartment Fire Behaviour training infrastructure as part of a wider €29.5 million national investment in fire service training and development.
Minister Niamh Smyth TD welcomed the announcement, highlighting the regional impact of the funding.
“This is a landmark day for fire services across Ireland, and I am particularly pleased that Cavan and Monaghan are seeing real and substantial investment under this programme. Kingscourt and Carrickmacross fire stations serve wide rural catchment areas, and these refurbishments will make a genuine difference to the personnel who work out of them and the communities they protect.
“The upgrade to the Monaghan Town training facility is also very significant. Ensuring our firefighters have access to modern, safe training infrastructure is just as important as the stations themselves,” she said.
Minister Smyth added that retained firefighters are the “backbone of emergency response in rural Ireland. They respond to road traffic collisions, house fires, flooding, and increasingly complex emergencies- often as volunteers, alongside full-time jobs and family life. This investment is a meaningful recognition of the work they do and a commitment to giving them the resources they deserve.”
At a national level, the programme includes €178.6 million for the construction or refurbishment of 39 fire stations, alongside €86.9 million to modernise the national fleet. This will include the purchase of 40 new fire appliances, 12 aerial units and 40 water tankers.
A further €23 million has been earmarked for frontline and specialist response equipment, while €10.5 million will fund a new national mobilisation and communications system.