Concerns that the fire station in Lismore will be downgraded as part of the reorganisation of local government were aired at the monthly meeting of the town council on Monday night.

Cllr. Bernard Leddy asked for clarification from the county’s chief fire officer that the Lismore station wouldn’t be downgraded. Town manager Paul Daly told him that a site has been purchased for a new fire station and an application made for funding. It was second on the priority list and there had been no change in status, he said.

When pressed on the subject, the manager would only say that was the position “as of now.”

At the same meeting members were told that the headquarters of the county library service are, as they’d feared, being moved to Waterford city – also as part of the reorganisation of local government.