A major milestone for emergency preparedness in the west of Ireland has been marked as Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris officially opened the new purpose-built headquarters for Roscommon's Civil Defence Unit.

The state-of-the-art facility, completed at a cost of €2.6 million, will enhance the Unit’s capacity to respond effectively to both emergency and non-emergency situations. It includes dedicated training spaces for volunteers, as well as secure storage for the Civil Defence's modern fleet of vehicles and specialised equipment.

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Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Tánaiste commended the commitment and resilience of Civil Defence volunteers, not just in Roscommon but nationwide.

He said: "Our Civil Defence volunteers worked tirelessly in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn, delivering food, generators and other supplies to so many households and businesses who were badly affected.

"What we saw was the incredible dedication of volunteers the length and breadth of the country, providing a vital service to their communities.

Their response really did show us all the depth of the service provided by our Civil Defence and the fact they can always be relied on when people need their help and support.

"For my part, I can assure you that I will continue to push to ensure that Civil Defence gets the resources it needs in the years ahead. New equipment, new policies, new training programmes and new facilities, such as this one in Roscommon, mark a new era for the modern Civil Defence."