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Fire Service funds boost

THE Fire Service in Northern Ireland has been promised a massive £21 million cash injection.
The funding, which is to be spread over the next three years, comes as a result of a comprehensive spending review and gives the Fire Service a total budget of £147.8 million until 2002.
Environment Minister Lord Dubs, who announced the boost yesterday during a visit to Omagh Fire Station, said: "This additional funding reflects the need to direct resources towards the maintenance and improvement of standards of fire cover in Northern Ireland."
The minister who spoke to officers and firefighters involved in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb, heaped praise on the station and other emergency services for their response.
"I am grateful that my annual visit to the fire service should take place in Omagh this year as I felt it was most important to express my gratitude for the way in which local firemen, and indeed all the emergency services responded to the tragedy."