Council rejects claim fire stations closed without risk assessment

Offaly County Council has rebuffed claims by Edenderry councillor Noel Cribbin that fire stations in Banagher, Daingean and Kilcormac were closed last year without a risk assessment being completed. Suggesting no risk assessment had taken place Cllr Cribbin said the decision to close three fire stations in Offaly was "flawed" and called for them to be re-opened immediately. The controversial decision to close the three fire stations was taken in January 2011. Cllr Cribbin said he had been in contact with Offaly County Council on the issue and had requested on four occasions a copy of the risk assessment plan He said he had now written to the council to clarify the issues and said it was his intention, to seek to have the three stations re-opened, if there was no risk assessment plan. This week Offaly County Council responded to Cllr Cribbin, saying a Fire and Services Operations Plan was adopted in January 2011. "The plan was adopted following almost two years of scrutiny and debate including risk assessment," a council response stated. "We have now, for the first time, a set of fire standards, having regard to health and safety requirements and available resources.The service is organised to provide a competent and integrated emergency response to all the residents of Co Offaly and to date performance standards have been met."