Curragh Fire Station to close

THE Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris has all but confirmed the closure of the Fire Station in the Curragh Camp, in a parliamentary reply to Deputy Mark Wall, but has promised a visit to the location “in the coming days”.

“In December 2024 my department was informed by the Chief of Staff that a military operational decision had been taken by the military authorities to proceed with the closure of the fire station,” said Deputy Harris.

“In advance of this decision. The then Tánaiste directed the Chief of Staff to advise both the CEO of Kildare County Council, and all residents and occupiers of the premises in the Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC) of the decision,” he said.

“Confirmation that this has been actioned is awaited from military management, (and) I will come back to Deputy Wall directly when I have that,” he added.

“I must emphasise that this is an operational decision taken by the military authorities rather than a decision taken by the Department of Defence or the government of Ireland,” he stated. He did seem to have some better news with reference to the DFTC, and the provision of living quarters for enlisted members.

“At the end of 2024, more that €232m worth of capital projects were at various stages of development, with another record allocation this year of €50m to improve the built infrastructure,” said the Tanaiste.

“Two of the accommodation projects commencing this year relate to the DFTC, namely a new student facility, and the refurbishment of the Ceannt block,” he said.

“A consultant was commissioned to assess the condition of the vacant housing at the Barracks, and its suitability for conversion or refurbishment to provide for additional single live-in accommodation for personnel,” he added.

“This report has recently been furnished to my department, and it is currently being reviewed by officials,” he said.

Deputy Wall responded: "The news that the fire station is to be closed has been greeted with disbelief by people who live in the Curragh, because it seems to sound the death knell for the Curragh Camp."

“I ask the Tánaiste to ensure the Curragh Camp survives, and becomes the jewel in the crown of the Defence Forces again,” he said.

He went on to highlight the difficulty army families are having with accommodation, and told of three such families he is helping at the moment who can’t source housing in Kildare. 

“Yet I know of 83 derelict houses in the Curragh Camp."