A new emergency services plan for Clare has confirmed there will be no reduction in the number of firefighters at Shannon Fire Station.
It follows widespread concerns and a public petition which garnered over 3,000 signatures calling for the station’s current crew complement to be retained.
Clare County Councillors have adopted the Fire and Emergency Operations Plan for 2026 to 2031, which is a multi-million-euro investment, and a framework to meet the needs of a modern fire and rescue service and the communities it serves.
It’s approval came a month later than scheduled, however, due to concerns that Shannon’s targeted firefighter headcount would drop from 15 to 12.
Shannon’s crew responds to more than 200 call-outs each year, while the population of the electoral area is forecast to increase from 30,000 to 40,000 by 2040.
Under the new agreement, there will be no reduction in the number of appliances allocated to Shannon and crew numbers won’t have a fixed ceiling, but will instead be kept under review.
Newmarket-On-Fergus Fianna Fáil Councillor David Griffin believes it is the best approach for the region.
Clare’s Chief Fire Officer says all factors were considered in drawing up the new emergency operations plan for the county.
The strategy will see will see an investment of €15 million in facilities and equipment countywide.
The plan also includes updated arrangements for dealing with severe weather and other unexpected scenarios.
Adrian Kelly says additional contingencies have also been put in place to ensure supplies are maintained during situations such as April’s fuel protests.
You can listen to the full interview here:
*Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
