PROPOSALS designed to keep open the fire stations in Banagher, Daingean and Kilcormac have been put forward by Offaly's nine Fianna Fáil councillors, as well as independents Tony McLoughlin and John Carroll.
Councillor Peter Ormond told this week's meeting of Offaly County Council that the annual cost of the service had grown from n1.3m. in 2000 to n3.6m. last year.
He said his group did not support the "simplistic proposal" of management to close the stations.
They propose appointment of one extra firefighter in Daingean, three more in Kilcormac, while keeping staff in Banagher at the same level.
They propose to save n65,000 by crews training every two weeks rather than weekly. They also propose to save n100,000 on emergency tender machines, while other savings could include training staff in breathing apparatus here rather than in the UK.
The group estimates that additional recruitment of only four personnel rather than 13 saves n378,000. A number of other savings could be made in rostering procedures, etc.
The County Manager, Mr Pat Gallagher, replied that he had got a copy of the document about an hour previously, and would consider it before the December meeting.
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