Laois County Council has announced that The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management has given approval for the Council to invite tenders for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art, 2-bay fire station in Stradbally.
The elected ,embers of Laois County Council previously agreed Part 8 development proposals for the new fire station.
The site for the new fire station is located at the junction of Main Street and the R427 Abbeyleix Road.
The development has been designed by a multi-disciplined team led by NODE Architecture.
Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) is a key design principal, in keeping with Laois County Council’s Climate Action Plan.
The works will introduce environmentally friendly features, including the installation of PV panels, air-to water heating systems, together with insulation of doors, windows, roof, floor and walls.
The design also incorporates a training yard with drill tower, lecture room, canteen and staff facilities for 12 fire-fighters.
The facilities will also include individual changing areas for each crew member.
Overall costs for the new fire station are estimated in or around €3.2 million.
The new Station will replace the existing fire station, located on Main Street, which was built in 1954.
In 2024, Stradbally Fire Station was mobilised to 157 incidents making it the second busiest of the eight fire stations in Laois.
Local Fianna Fail Councillor Paschal McEvoy, a long time campaigner for a new station, also welcomed the news.
He said: “This is a fantastic day for everyone in Stradbally and indeed the wider community.
“The fire service do incredible work and they deserve to do it from the very best of facilities.
“We are incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated team and I hope the tender process goes smoothly so the project can progress quickly.”
Cathaoirleach of County Laois, Cllr Padraig Fleming said: “I welcome this significant investment, to deliver the new Stradbally fire station.
“Fire and Emergency Services play a critical role in our communities, and it is important that the facilities available to those Services are to the appropriate standard.”
Michael Rainey, Chief Executive, Laois County Council said: “Laois County Council is delighted to reach this stage in the development of a new fire station in Stradbally.
“The new fire station will be a modern, fit for purpose, facility that will serve the community of Stradbally, and its hinterlands for many years to come.”
Declan Power, Chief Fire Officer, said: “This development will be of huge benefit to the firefighters of Stradbally.
“In additional to the 2-bay unit, the development provides additional facilities for training which, in turn, supports enhancements in the emergency response capacity available to the citizens of County Laois, together with those visiting and passing through the County.”
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