Minister for Defence Alan Shatter officially opened a state-of-the-art Civil Defence base in Mountmellick, Co Laois, yesterday.
Citing the efforts of volunteers during the recent tragedy in west Cork, Mr Shatter praised the work of the almost 4,000 Civil Defence members countrywide. The facility, located 15 minutes from the Slieve Bloom mountains, can house two vehicles and has a training room and radio control room.