Rural areas to benefit from €61 million fire service funding Several rural areas are set to benefit from funding announced this week under a new Fire Service Capital Programme. Darragh O’Brien, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, announced €61 million for the new programme, which will see the construction of six new fire stations, as will as continued financial support for a further 12 new fire stations; nine fire station refurbishments; and the allocation of 35 new fire engines. Each county will see at least one new fire engine delivered. The delivery of fire engines will take place in two tranches.