£26m funding for NI fire service

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7673702.stm

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A major cash boost for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has been announced.

Over the next three years the service will receive £26m of capital investment.

The money will allow the service to update equipment and modernise many fire stations.

Public Safety Minister Michael McGimpsey said a "world-class health service needs a modern and responsive emergency service".

"The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service does a tremendous job in responding to a wide range of emergency incidents from fires, road traffic collisions and other specialist rescue calls.

"It is essential that we provide both frontline staff and management with the necessary infrastructure to enable them to continue to deliver a quality, efficient and effective service to everyone in Northern Ireland."

Mr McGimpsey said he planned to invest a total of £168m in the service over the next 10 years.

"There will be major investment in fire appliances, with 11 frontline appliances to be replaced each year," he said.

The minister said over the next three years, a replacement fire station in Armagh City would be completed and new stations built in Omagh, Fintona, Cushendall and Newtownstewart.

Part of the 10-year plan is to replace 26 stations across Northern Ireland.