Independent candidate calls for fire service to be alerted of traffic accidents

Independent local election candidate Frank Moran has this week called on Offaly County Fire Service to reverse its decision of not alerting the fire brigade of all road traffic accidents and to revert to its original policy in relation to this matter. Mr Moran said a decision was made last year whereby local fire crews are not automatically notified on road traffic accidents unless a person is trapped in a vehicle at the scene. He said: 'Until last year many injured people benefited from the presence of trained local fire fighters who on many occasions would arrive at the scene of the accident before the emergency ambulance service. The current policy means that an injured person could be waiting for assistance while life saving equipment and trained personnel within the fire service are available locally but cannot be utilised unless the person is trapped. I am calling therefore on Offaly County Fire Service to reverse its decision of not alerting the fire brigade to all road traffic accidents and revert to its original policy in connection with this matter.' Mr Moran has been active in ensuring fire services in Clara have been maintained in recent years. He pointed out that in 2005 Offaly County Council had proposed the closure of four stations in the county, including Clara. After this the Clara and District Fire Service Action Group was set up by local people who were concerned by this proposal. 'As a member of the group I played an active role to sustain an intensive campaign to fight against the very real threat of the station closure. During the campaign I gained valuable experience of dealing directly with county council officials including a thorough insight into the very real challenges facing elected representatives at county council level,' said Mr Moran. 'With the full support of the local community the action group convinced the Council to review its policy leading to the retention of the fire service in the Clara area. Since then the strength of the crew has doubled from four to eight fire fighters and training, equipment and welfare facilities have also improved. This clearly demonstrates how local people, working together with a sense of purpose and conviction, can make a real difference in so far as local issues are concerned,' he added. 'Finally, I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the entire local community to pay special tribute to our local fire fighters, they are doing an excellent job and we are all very proud of them,' he said.