Health Minister Robbie Butler has welcomed a substantial funding package for Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS), including £11 million for 31 new fire appliances to be deployed to stations across the region.

In total, 47 new specialist vehicles and appliances will be introduced. The programme, worth over £16 million, represents a major upgrade of the operational fleet to bolster emergency response and support firefighters in safeguarding communities across Northern Ireland.

During his first visit to the NIFRS Service Support Centre in Belfast, the Minister met Chief Fire and Rescue Officer Aidan Jennings and Paula White, Director of Finance and Support Services, to discuss how the new appliances will be integrated, the benefits of the investment and the Service's future plans. He also viewed vehicles featuring upgraded technology to improve firefighter safety, enhance operational effectiveness, support crew welfare and strengthen clean cab and contaminant management measures.

He said the fleet modernisation would improve protection and comfort for crews responding to incidents across Northern Ireland.

Minister Butler said: "This major investment ensures fire crews have access to reliable, modern vehicles, equipping them to respond quickly and effectively when communities need them most. These modern appliances will help fire crews meet the demands of the increasingly complex challenges they face every day and have been designed with safety, resilience and efficiency at their core, providing crews with the tools they need to protect people, property and the environment.

"Importantly, the vehicles also incorporate measures to support firefighter health and wellbeing, including enhanced arrangements for managing operational contaminants and reducing exposure to harmful substances. This investment demonstrates our commitment not only to maintaining an effective emergency response service, but also to protecting the wellbeing of the firefighters who serve our communities."

NIFRS Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Aidan Jennings said: "We thank Minister Butler for supporting this significant investment in the operational resilience of our Service. The new Fire Appliances and specialist vehicles strengthen our emergency response, reduce maintenance pressures and ensure our Firefighters are equipped with leading-edge resources to meet the challenges and demands on our Service, when responding to incidents. This investment is also about our people and our ability to ensure that they have the right resources to continue to deliver a professional and effective emergency response to our community across Northern Ireland.

The package also provides for three new Command Support Units, due to enter frontline service next year. These specialist units will play a key role in coordinating major incident responses and help maintain a safe, efficient and dependable emergency response capability.