It’s feared the fire station in Lismore could cease operating as a result of the reorganisation of local government services across West Waterford as part of local Government reform.

Lismore town councillor Bernard Leddy, raised the matter at the members’ monthly meeting on Monday night. He pointed out that they’d been given assurances previously that it wouldn’t close. Cllr Orla Russell said rumours were circulating locally that the station will be closed by Waterford County Council. With three fire stations in the area, in Cappoquin, Lismore and Tallow, theirs would be the likely casualty, she feared.

Acting town manager Paul Daly said he knew the council was looking at fire station operations but he didn’t know the outcome of that review.

“I can’t give you the assurance you require,” he said. “To remove a fire station is politically a very difficult thing to do,” he told members. He undertook to take the matter up with the department overseeing the fire service and come back to their next meeting with an up-to-date report on the matter.