Minister Browne announces record €328.5 million Fire Services Capital Programme
- Foilsithe: 7 Aibreán 2026
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 7 Aibreán 2026
Plan will strengthen fire and emergency services nationwide in the most extensive fire station redevelopment plan in the State’s history
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD has announced the State’s largest ever investment in fire and emergency services in the landmark €328.5 million Fire Services Capital Programme (2026–2030).
The programme, developed by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM), sets out a comprehensive plan to modernise Ireland’s fire service fleet, infrastructure, training capability and communications systems to meet the evolving risks facing communities nationwide.
Minister Browne emphasised:
“This programme represents a significant investment in the safety, resilience and wellbeing of communities across Ireland. It ensures our fire services across the country will have a modern fleet, upgraded facilities and equipment required to meet the challenges they face, with a changing climate, a growing population and increasingly complex emergency risks.
This investment in the fire service will reinforce public safety in our communities and ensure that our critical infrastructure and essential services are protected. Having fire services that are recognised as dependable, well trained and well equipped is crucial to the communities they serve and this injection of significant funding will future proof the service they provide.”
Over the next five years:
- €178.6 million will be invested in building or refurbishing 39 fire stations across the country. This includes new fire stations in Dublin, Galway and Cork cities with a major redevelopment planned for Dundalk Fire Station in Co Louth. Three fire authority headquarters will be redeveloped in Ennis, Kilkenny and Navan. Plus, thirty one retained fire stations will be replaced or refurbished
- €86.9 million will be invested in the national fire fleet. With 40 new fire appliances allocated across the twenty seven fire authorities – representing at least one new appliance for each fire authority, with funding set aside for a further allocation later in the programme.
- A €29.5 million programme of works upgrading fire service national training capabilities will be delivered.
- €23 million is being invested in frontline and specialist response equipment and;
- €10.5 million is being invested in the national mobilisation and communications system.
Fire services are typically the last line of defence in protecting lives, homes and businesses from a myriad of hazards. This investment ensures they have the modern tools, facilities and systems required to meet that responsibility.
The new programme responds directly to the evolving nature of fire service response and the need to protect critical national infrastructure.
The capital programme is designed to ensure Ireland’s fire services can respond effectively to:
- Increasing severe weather events,
- Wildland fires,
- industrial hazards,
- Urban growth and complex infrastructure and;
- National level emergencies requiring coordinated response.
Ends
Notes to editor
The full list of allocations is available to download here.
Fire Services Capital Programme 2026-2030 – Major Priority Investments
Modernising the National Fire Fleet (€86.9m)
The programme prioritises the renewal of Ireland’s frontline fire appliances, addressing an ageing fleet and supplychain vulnerabilities. Key investments include funding for:
- 40 new Class B fire appliances ensuring every fire authority receives at least one new appliance through an extended OGP procurement framework to September 2026.
- 12 new aerial appliances, strengthening response capability in urban and highrise environments.
- 40 new water tankers, critical for firefighting during severe weather events and water supply disruptions.
- Emergency tenders, incident command units, jeeps and vans to support large and small, urban and rural firegrounds.
These investments ensure fire services operational response capacities remain robust and responsive to emerging needs and threats, with a focus on the protection of lives and critical infrastructure.
Transforming Fire Station Infrastructure (€178.6 million)
The programme responds to documented deficiencies, including inadequate space, outdated facilities, and implementation of modern mitigants of exposure to products of combustion on return to station post-incident.
Local authorities submitted priority projects for inclusion and a full list of priority station projects are included as an appendix. Some flexibility will be allowed for smaller renovation works which can be considered on a case by case where an immediate need is identified.
Investment in works at five fulltime station sites in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Dundalk.
Three major headquarters redevelopments in Ennis, Kilkenny and Navan.
31 retained station projects (19 new builds, 12 refurbishments) to modernise facilities, expand capacity and improve firefighter welfare.
Additional funding for fire station backup generators to ensure operational continuity during severe weather and power outages.
Upgrading National Training Capabilities (€29.5 million)
To enhance the protection of firefighters and align with international best practice, the programme provides funding for infrastructural improvements to designated Fire Services Learning and Development centres (FSLDC) to support:
Upgraded Breathing Apparatus training facilities to include conversion of sites to non-carbonaceous gas burning at:
- Dundalk,
- Hacketstown,
- The O’Brien Institute (Dublin),
- Sligo and
- Tullamore.
Upgraded Compartment Fire Behaviour training facilities at:
- Hacketstown (Carlow)
- Monaghan Town (Monaghan)
- Nenagh (Tipperary)
- The O’Brien Institute (Dublin)
Construction of a Virtual Reality simulation suite at the existing Fire Services Learnng and Development Centre, Tullamore for advanced incident command training.
Fire Service frontline and specialist response equipment (€23 million)
Funding will support new high capacity pumps, urban search and rescue equipment, road traffic collision tools, PPE costs and those for emerging risks. This ensures readiness for largescale incidents, including flooding, structural collapse, and complex rescues.
National Mobilisation and Communications System (€10.5 million)
The programme will support the final rollout of the new National Mobilisation and Communications System (NMACS) that will see full implementation of the upgraded fire service 999/112 call taking platform, replacing legacy systems across Dublin, Limerick and Castlebar.
This investment will deliver a unified, resilient national dispatch system across the three dedicated fire service regional control centres for the first time.
Other funding is allocated for:
- Mobile data systems,
- Tetra radio refresh and;
- Stationend mobilisation hardware.