County Waterford to get new fire stations and six new appliances
Waterford City & County Council has been given funding for two new fire stations and six new appliances. Pic: Waterford City Fire Service FB
An investment of €8.7 million in the County Waterford fire service will see two new stations and six new fire appliances in the county.
Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD, confirmed the allocation today, Tuesday, April 7.
The funding allocation to Waterford City & County Council, will lead to the construction of brand-new, state-of-the-art fire stations for two communities in County Waterford - in Tallow and Kilmacthomas - and the acquisition of fire tender appliances, support vehicles and equipment.
The new fire station in Tallow will be constructed in line with Waterford City and County Council’s priority project list for the 2026-2030 Fire Services Capital Programme. This will be in addition to Kilmacthomas Fire Station, on which construction has commenced by local contractor Conor Phelan Ltd.
Waterford City and County Council has also been allocated funding for two new Class B fire appliances - estimated to cost approximately €500,000 each - one new high reach aerial appliance worth an estimated €1.1 million and three support vehicles, as part of the largest capital funding plan for fire services nationwide.
The funding is part of the National Fire Services Capital Programme (2026–2030), developed by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM), which sets out a comprehensive plan to modernise Ireland’s fire service fleet, infrastructure, training capability and communications systems to meet the evolving risks facing communities nationwide.
In welcoming the funding Minister Cummins said: “I welcome the announcement of funding through the Fire Services Capital Programme for a new fire station at Tallow and the continued support for the new fire station at Kilmacthomas."
"This long-term investment through the Department’s Fire Services Capital Programme not only ensures the ongoing development of the infrastructure of fire stations in Waterford, but also provides further investment in vehicle fleets, specialist equipment and command and control capability, reflecting the importance we place on fire safety of our communities," he said.
"Waterford City & County Council were recently approved to accept the tender of Conor Phelan Ltd for the construction of the new fire station in Kilmacthomas, and works are expected to begin imminently, while a new site has been identified for development in Tallow, and everything is being done to progress this project and ensure its delivery," he added.
Minister Cummins said the investment in the fire service will reinforce public safety in Waterford and ensure that the city and county's critical infrastructure and essential services are protected.
"Having fire services that are recognised as dependable, well-trained and well-equipped is crucial to the communities they serve, and this injection of funding will future-proof the service they provide," he said.
