Emergency services delayed because of padlocked gate
Councillor's claim
by Paul O'Meara · Leinster LeaderAmbulance personnel were unable to attend at Castletown in Celbridge in June because a padlocked gate blocked their entry.
This was the claim made at a Kildare County Council meeting by Cllr Claire O’Rourke, who said that the padlocks had to be broken.
The councillor asked Kildare County Council for a report detailing the system that is in place covering emergency responses at Castletown for the fire service and “other blue-light emergencies.”
She also wanted to know if these services are centrally coordinated.
According to KCC official Alan Dunney the fire service has a pre-fire incident plan for the main house at Castletown should an incident occur at that location.
He said KCC is the keyholder and it coordinates emergency responses.
He added the fire service has access via the main gates at Lime Avenue, and has possession of keys to those gates held on its appliances at the Maynooth and Leixlip fire stations.
A coordination meeting has taken place and arrangements are in place with the National Ambulance Service.
This means if the service personnel need access to the grounds of Castletown House, they will automatically request the assistance of fire service personnel, who will facilitate access. The meeting was also told that the NAS is aware that the primary entry point is through the gates at Lime Avenue.