Plea for money to replace Laois fire station with no women's toilets or showers

A Laois fire station is losing the 'Grand National' in state funding, as it continues a 23 year wait to get basic facilities.

Rathdowney fire station is behind front runner Stradbally to get a new building, and former fireman Cllr John King has made another plea to Laois County Council to make it their number one.

The station has three female fire crew, but they don't have female showers or toilets.

"Cllr Paschal McEvoy said it's like the Grand National, Paschal got ahead on this one and Stradbally has the goahead.

"It isn't fit for purpose. It's too small for all the activities. We have three females in the station now. There is no room for indoor drills, there are two single toilets and a shower area for all.

"Both Stradbally and Rathdowney I'd like to see the two of them going ahead together," Cllr King said as he tabled another motion with his request to the recent meeting of Laois County Council.

"I made a request to Deputy Willie Aird and other TDs as well to raise this in the Dáil. Willie informed me that he has spoken to Simon Harris and this project will be supported provided Laois County Council make the requests. 

"Laois County Council purchased a site in 2002, that's 23 years ago and plans were designed at the time. I served as a fireman for 15 years before joining as a county councillor. Several attempts were made to seek funding. In 2016 Alan Kelly announced a new fire station programme until 2020 and unfortunately Rathdowney was not included.

"I want to see this for me because I owe it to my colleagues in Rathdowney and I also owe it to the people of Rathdowney. I hope that I won't be coming asking for this again in 2026," Cllr King said.

"So say all of us," noted Laois County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh.

Cllr Conor Bergin had seconded the motion.

"I fully support Cllr King who has been raising this for the last number of years since I joined the council. In fairness it does deserve to be Rathdowney, it has to be next on the list for a fire station in Laois," he said.

Cllr Ollie Clooney gave his "100% support" to the call. 

Cllr Kings motion asked for Laois County Council to ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne for capital funding in his 2026 budget for the new station, adding that along with Stradbally station, they are "seriously needed for the upkeep of our fire service". 

A letter was then sent to the Minister with the Laois request.

Stradbally fire station is currently at tender stage to find a contractor to build it. The tender will close on January 21 2026 and the contract will be awarded in June 2026. The €3.9m station will be built on the site of the former Stradbally civil defence office, an old squash club that will be demolished. 

Image of the new fire station coming to Stradbally.

Laois TD Brian Stanley and Laois Sinn Féin senator Maria McCormack have both recently requested for Rathdowney station to be included in the 2026 to 2030 fire services capital programme.

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Laois County Council has listed a new fire station for Rathdowney as “its number one priority project” for the fire services capital programme 2026 to 2030, in communication with the Department. In 2025 the council sent an updated appraisal for a proposed new fire station at Rathdowney, which noted several issues with the existing station.