Minister hits back at fire station concerns

THE Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Michael McGimpsey has hit back at 'financial' concerns stating 'my Department remains committed to providing first class firefighting facilities in the Ballycastle/Cushendall areas'.

The issue was raised at a Moyle District Council meeting on August 2 when Cllr Oliver McMullan expressed worries about the impact on the plans for Ballycastle and Cushendall Fire Stations posed by cutbacks.

During the meeting, Cllr Cara McShane also hit out that 'millions' was being frittered away on so-called bonuses for consultants adding: 'That would go a long way to building fire stations in the North.'

Responding to the article published in the Times Mr McGimpsey said: "I read your recent article entitled 'Cut consultants, build fire stations says Cllr McShane' dated 04 August 2010 and felt I must respond.

"I wish to reiterate the fact that my Department remains committed to providing first class firefighting facilities in the Ballycastle/ Cushendall areas.

"The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has submitted a business case for a proposed new fire station at Ballycastle to my department. This is currently under review.

"Cushendall Fire Station has been identified for replacement as part of the NIFRS Capital Investment Programme. The fire service has completed a feasibility study on the original site at Coast Road in the town and is now developing a business case which will be submitted to the department for consideration later in the year.

"As councillors McShane and McMullan are aware I continue to be supportive of these projects and under current plans, would anticipate work starting on both of them during 2011, of which I informed the Council in April."

Addressing the issue of budget cuts, the Health Minister added: "I think it is imperative to highlight the fact that I face mounting financial pressures in relation to both my capital and revenue budgets. Over the past 18 months, the councillors' own party, Sinn Fein, have voted three times in the Assembly to cut my department's budget.

"It is time for local politicians to get real and stop playing politics with the health and public safety services. Voting for cuts to the budget for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, and then pretending to be a defender of these services is an example of gross political dishonesty."

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